292 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



Explanation, Plate 16 

 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY BIRD GROUP 



In the spring and early summer it is the practice of the cattlemen of 

 the San Joaquin Valley to flood their land with water, to a depth of six 

 to eighteen inches, to induce a ranker growth of grass for pasture. Many 

 thousand acres are thus flooded and converted into marsh land, to which 

 vast numbers of ducks, waders and other swamp-loving birds are at- 

 tracted. During the breeding season great numbers of birds resort there 

 to build their nests, lay their eggs, and rear their young. These breed- 

 ing grounds are frequented by more than thirty species of birds. Among 

 those shown in this group, which shows a typical breeding ground near 

 Los Baiios, Merced County, California, are the Fulvous Tree Duck, Cin- 

 namon Teal, Shoveler, Redhead Duck, Coot, American Bittern, Least Bit- 

 tern, Glossy Ibis, Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, Red-winged Black- 

 bird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Tule Wren, Little Black Tern, Forster's 

 Tern, and the Virginia Rail. In order to show in a limited area a con- 

 siderable number of species it was necessary to bunch the birds a little 

 more closely than they actually occur in nature. 



Presented to the Museum of the California Academy of Sciences by 

 Hon. Joseph D. Grant. 



This group was prepared under the immediate direction of Paul J. 

 Fair. 

 The background was painted by Maurice G. Logan. 

 Photo by Gabriel Moulin. 



