202 Audubon s Western Journal 



tained is very great, and at the end of every leaf 

 of the cones, quite a lump is seen. 



The ultramarine jay, and Steller's, the red-shaft- 

 ed woodpecker and California quail are abundant, 

 and many finches, some new, and others that I 

 know, are everywhere; but I have no time to skin 

 and preserve specimens. Then too, the black- 

 tailed deer, California hare, and grizzly bear, are 

 common, as w^ell as the small hare. There are 

 some few squirrels and a marmot or two, but I have 

 not been able to procure them; I have also seen 

 the robin of this country and many others. The 

 country is otherwise barren, I wish I was out of it. 



January 20th, l8^0. Chinese Diggings. It 

 does not seem possible, remembering the difficulties 

 of the road, that we are only seventy miles from 

 Stockton. The men began "rocking" yesterday, 

 one cradle, and get about a dollar an hour, but 

 hope to get more when in the way of it. Those at 

 work around us get an average of fourteen a day, 

 and at times much more; then again a week's work 

 is lost. The quantity of gold, so I am told by those 

 who know more of it than I do, is very great, but so 

 diffused that great labor is required to get it. The 

 lottery of the whole affair is beyond belief. The 

 richest gulches are supposed to be those on the river, 

 the Tuolome [Tuolumne], or the creeks leading to 

 the river. The pit, or piece of ground allotted to 

 each man is sixteen feet square, this having been 



