GENERAL REPORT. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE. 



The investigations on whit-h the following report is based, were made 

 almost wholly within the limits of that vast interior region of continental 

 drainage known as the Great Basin, between the parallels of 39° and 42° 

 north latitude, collections having been made at but one outlying locality, 

 the vicinity of Sacramento City, California. As observations were extended 

 along the entire course of travel, however, from San Francisco to points in 

 Utah eastward of Salt Lake City, we shall not confine our treatise to the 

 limited region noted, but shall describe each of the main points where 

 observations were made and notes taken, in regular sequence.^ 



All the Avay from Panama to San Francisco several species of pelagic 

 bu-ds followed our vessel, the Black-footed Albatross {Biomedia n'ujripes) and 

 "White-headed Gull {Blasipus Jieermanni) being daily companions until we 

 entered the " Golden Gate." No land-birds made their appearance, how- 

 ever, until, when off the coast of Mexico, between Acapulco and Cape St. 

 Lucas, a solitary Mourning Dove {Zenccdiira carolinensis) made its appear- 

 ance one day about noon, and, although flying around the vessel for nearly 

 an hour, did not alight, but finally disappeared to the eastward, where no 

 land was in sight. 



" We reluctantly omit, as too far beyond the geographical province of our subject, 

 some notes on the Isthmus of Panama, where, however, no North American birds were 

 seen, excepting some waders, observed in the pools along the railroad, among which 

 were the Purple Gallinule [GMinnla martinica) and the Little White Egret, or Snowy 

 Heron (Garzetta candidhsima). In the Bay of Aspiuwall several Man-owar Uawks 

 (Tachypetes aquila) were observed sailing in circles overhead, much in the manner of 

 Swallow-tailed Kites [FAanoides forficatus); and in the Bay of Panama, on the opposite 

 (Pacific) side, Brown Pelicans (bdecanus fuscm) were i)articularly numerous, and 

 Doticeablo from their occupation of plunging from the air into the water after their 

 prey. 



