428 EXPLORATION IN UPPER CALIFORNIA IN 1860. 
several, but could only save one specimen. ‘They appear to prefer the snowy 
region, well suited to their long and downy feathers, and | never met any else- 
where. Some of the jay tribe known to me I saw engaged in their habit of 
catching insects in the air. They differ from any others of their tribe that I 
ever met with. 
No. 308 of my collection, (not identified.)—The first time I observed this 
bird was at the station-house on. McCloud’s river, where it was in large num- 
bers. At first sight I thought they were cross-bills, owing to their manner and 
whistling note, but by closer observation found the difference in size and color. 
The whistling noise of so large a party can be heard a considerable distance off. 
Their flight is swift, and when flying their wings make a surprising noise. I 
sat under a willow bush in Butte valley engaged in cleaning eggs, when I sud- 
denly heard a noise in the air as if several hawks were diving at their prey, and 
before I had a chance of leaving my place to see where the noise came from, 
all the willows were covered with these birds, whistling and jumping in a very 
lively and active manner, and feeding on the willow buds. I had previously 
obtained two specimens only of this species, (shot at the station-house on Mc- 
Cloud’s river,) and here having so fine a chance for more, killed seven specimens 
at one shot. All the others, with their usual noise, took flight to the mountains. 
On opening the females I found quite large eggs already formed. 
Numenius longirostris, (long-billed or brown curlew.)—This bird is seen at 
Fort Crook during the spring, but only while migrating north; but in Butte 
valley, particularly the western, portion of it, which is swampy, they appeared 
to be numerous, eggs and nests being abundant. The nests are built of dry 
grass, placed in a hollow previously made in the dry ground. The nests usually 
contain four eggs, nicely arranged, with the pointed end towards the centre. 
This bird makes a singular noise, something between the cooing of a dove and 
the whistle of a quail. When driven from the nest by the hunting of the dog 
it displays great sagacity by leading the dog a circuitous path from the nest for 
some distance and then suddenly flying off. At first it hops or flutters along 
like a young bird, and just when the dog is about to pounce upon it, off it flies, 
uttering its note, cooi, cooi, sounding like a contraction of go away. 
Fulica americana, (raud-hen, or coot.)\—This bird, common throughout this 
State, is particulary so in Butte lake, where there is no difficulty in procuring 
immense quantities of eggs and nests. I have myself seen a canoe-load of eggs 
collected in less than an hour’s time. ‘The nest of the bird is built on the water, 
and, as its construction is somewhat novel, I will endeavor to deseribe it at 
length. The tules bordering the waters are bent down, one towards another, so 
as to form a base or foundation; then other tules are interwoven, adding strength 
to the structure, and the whole is finished off by an interlacing of the same 
material. The whole, when finished, has the appearance of an inverted cone. 
The nests generally contain from nine to eleven eggs, and present the appear- 
ance of a floating basket. 
Ducks —1 never paid much attention to the ducks, owing to the vast number 
found over the whole country. During my trip to the lakes many opportunities 
presented themselves for becoming acquainted with their manners, habits of 1 
breeding, &c., but I was prevented from availing myself of them on account 
of the Indian difficulty spoken of in my letter. The most favorable season for 
collecting eggs and nests is the end of May and first of June. Ducks gener- 
ally select high grass, or little brush, on the skirt of water, lakes, rivers, &e. 
‘The nest will be easily found after detecting the trail leading from the water. 
The duck never alights near the nest, but at some distance from it, in order to 
avoid notice; after alighting in the water it swims to a spot near the nest, and 
then, walking through the grass always from the same point, makes the trail 
