I I 6 Merriam, So/ne Birds of Southern California . \ An\\ 



natural system of irrigation in numerous side canons that ditch 

 down the spring rains from the hills, and as a result has a rich 

 growth of sycamores and live oaks along the lines of the spring 

 streams, with water near enough the surface to feed the vineyards, 

 orchards and eucalyptus groves, and the grain and alfalfa fields 

 that cover its floor. Moreover, the enclosing hills and the uncul- 

 tivated parts of the valley are overgrown with chaparral, which 

 offers a cover for many species that would not live out in the open ; 

 so that the valley not only affords a rich food supply to a great 

 number of individual birds, but its vegetation is sufficiently varied 

 to attract an unusual number of species for such a small section, 

 in the arid west. 



The orchards, eucalyptus groves, grain and alfalfa fields have 

 largely been planted within the last six years, and must exert an 

 important influence upon the future valley fauna. But unless the 

 economic value of the birds is soon demonstrated and under- 

 stood there is clanger that the ranchmen, moved by the too obvi- 

 ous harm the birds do the fruit, may check the incomers or 

 actually exterminate the more obtrusive species. 



Callipepla californica vallicola. Valley Quail. — In 1SS9, Quail were 

 so numerous that the dust of the roads was printed with their tracks, and 

 it was an everv-day matter to have them start out of the brush and run 

 ahead of the horses quite unconcernedly, pattering along in their stiff, 

 prim way, with their top knots thrown forward over their beaks. In fact 

 the Quail were so abundant as to be a pest. For several years great nocks 

 of them came down the canons to Major Merriam's vineyard, where they 

 destroyed annually from twenty to thirty tons of fruit. In one season, 

 July to October, 1SS1, one hundred and thirty dozen were trapped on 

 his ranch. The result of this wholesale destruction was manifest when I 

 returned to the valley in 1894. The birds were then rarely seen on the 

 roads, and seldom flushed in riding about the valley. 



Carthartes aura. Turkey Vulture. — Mr. W. W. Merriam watched 

 two of the Buzzards eating skunks. They began by pulling the skin from 

 the head and ate till they came to the scent gland, which was left on 

 the ground. 



Falco sparverius deserticolus. Desert Sparrow Hawk. — March 30, 

 1S89, a Sparrow Hawk was feeding its mate at the nest. The mouth of 

 the nest was so small that it was difficult for the brooding bird to get in 

 or out. It would fly against the hole and attempt to hook its bill over 

 the edge to pull itself in, but its shoulders were too broad for the space 

 and the only way it succeeded was by raising its claw to clasp the edge of 



