QO Cooper on Birds of Ventura County. California. [April 



The old Indian-Spanish natives that formerly lived at Saticoy, 

 had also cultivated a thicket of Opuntia tuna* a small vine- 

 yard, and a few pear trees on the edge of the marsh. 



About three or four miles west of Saticoy another grove of 

 poplars, willows, and stunted live-oaks, partly open and partly 

 crowded with dense shrubbery, lay along the south bank of the 

 river lor three miles, and was the most productive bird-hunting 

 locality I found in the valley, though many species of the hills 

 were rarely seen there. I have called this West Grove. 



I also made several trips into the hills, once up to the pine 

 region, about 3000 feet altitude, finding the same birds men- 

 tioned by Professor Evermann, with the exceptions before noted. 

 I also visited the seashore often, and made two trips across the 

 level plain south of the river to the west end of the Santa Monica 

 range of hills at Point Duma. No birds were seen there, how- 

 ever, that are not also found in other parts of the surrounding 

 region. 



1. Tantalus loculator (iSS). Small Hocks or families came to Sati- 

 coy in June, both of 1872 and 1S73; probably broods raised farther east, 

 and possibly along Santa Clara River. They doubtless breed in San 

 Joaquin Valley, as some are shot there every year. After leaving the 

 nest the broods of young wander, and I have several times seen them fly- 

 ing at middav in wide circles high over San Francisco Bay. I have also 

 seen one from Santa Barbara. One was shot some years since at San 

 Leandro near I lav wards, having incautiously alighted on a shade tree by 

 the roadside; and these young birds always seem destitute of that nat- 

 ural fear of man so necessary for their safety. Like many other large 

 birds of California, they will soon become extinct there, unless they 

 acquire this protective instinct. 



2. Rallus virginianus (212). I shot several of this species on the 

 marsh at Saticoy, and heard them during the whole year, so they no 

 doubt breed. 



I did not see the large R. obsolctus there, but as it is chiefly a salt-water 

 bird, and has been obtained at Santa Barbara, also by myself at San Pe- 

 dro Bay (where it breeds), it is doubtless to be found near the seashore in 

 Ventura. 



3. Porzana Carolina (214). Quite common with preceding (212). I 

 shot one in winter, but doubt if it breeds there. 



4. Phalaropus lobatus (223). A flock was seen in a pond near the 

 seashore in July. A few occur in such ponds along the coast in every 

 month except, perhaps, June, but I suspect they are barren birds. I shot 

 one in perfect nuptial plumage in San Diego County, May 1, 1S72, the 

 only one seen there, about fifteen miles inland. 



*A Mexican species, much larger than the native kinds found on the dry plain. 



