350 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



island. The rookery where the animals make their 

 headquarters is about two miles distant. The sea- 

 lions are so tame there that they can be approached 

 with ease, and are the constant objects of amateur 

 photographers, who visit the locality in yachts and 

 boats of various kinds. 



The wild quail or partridge of Southern California 

 will enter gardens, and nest there; and in the protected 

 season I have seen a flock standing in an island road, 

 a jaunty male between them and my horse not twenty 

 feet away — moving only when I mioved, and then with 

 reluctance. Several years ago some residents on one 

 of the Channel Islands of Southern California intro- 

 duced a number of black-tailed deer, which were 

 protected to such extent that in time they discovered 

 that they were privileged characters, and assumed 

 nearly the absolute contempt for human beings held 

 by the sacred bulls of India, that crowd men and 

 women from the road. 



They persisted in entering gardens day and night, 

 destroying the plants, and finally, to locate them, the 

 dwellers on the island had bells fastened to them. 

 One buck made his home near the town of Cabrillo, 

 and walked about the place and over the hills with 

 the freedom of a dog. \Vhen a boat landed off the 

 pier the buck ran down to greet the newcomers and 

 share their lunch, and became a welcome guest at 

 barbecues and lobster and clam bakes. As time went 

 on this deer through attention became extremely arro- 

 gant, and began to resent any lack of attention; in a 

 word, like many persons, he could not stand prosperity. 

 One day when an old lady refused to allow him to eat 

 her lunch, the buck drew off and bowled the lady over. 



