A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF CALIFORNIA LAND 

 BIRDS WITH KEY 



The following descriptive list of the birds of California includes all 

 species normally occurring within our limits. I have omitted a number 

 of accidental visitants from the east and south of which only one or two 

 occurrences have been noted. I have subordinated subspecies whenever 

 it seemed possible, feeling that the fine distinctions necessary to a com- 

 prehension of them are too difficult for the novice. My first aim has 

 been to make the descriptions simple, and all technical terms have there- 

 fore been eliminated. 



In my descriptions I have drawn freely from Ridgway's Manual and 

 Coues' Key, and the collection of the California Academy of Sciences 

 has been constantly consulted. The distribution of species is largely 

 summarized from Belding's Land Birds of the Pacific District. 



The beginner is urged to use the descriptions without the key when- 

 ever jjossible, thus fixing in mind the main points of classification. The 

 size of each species is indicated by the average length of the dead bird 

 stretched out and measured from tip of bill to tip of tail, as given in 

 standard works. Allowance must therefore be made in the living bird, 

 which looks somewhat shorter. If this list serves to make the un- 

 scientific acquainted with the commoner birds of California it will 

 fulfil its mission. 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO CALIFORNIA LAND BIRDS 



In using the key, note first whether the bird in question belongs among 

 the game birds (grouse, pigeons, etc.), the birds of prey (hawks, owls, 

 etc.), the woodpeckers, or the humming-birds. If it fits in any of these 

 familiar groups find the page of the proper key. If not, observe the 

 general artificial groups of A, crested birds, and B, uncrested birds. 

 If it is not in the small group of crested birds, note next the five main 

 divisions according to color and markings: 



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