292 CALIFORNIA BIRD STUDIES 



Africa and India, and bespeaks for it extreme antiquity, 

 was seen daily. These birds combine in a singular way the 

 characteristics of both a Duck and a Goose. When on the 

 ground, their erect pose is particularly goose-like. Their 

 note, however, suggests that of neither Goose nor Duck, but 

 is a long-drawn, squealing whistle. 



Coots (Fulica) were abundant wherever there was 

 enough water to float them, and as usual, their strongly 

 marked emphatic notes were most conspicuous among the 

 bird voices. In default of the dense growth in which they 

 commonly build, their nests were often placed in such expos- 

 ed situations that the sitting bird could be seen at a distance 

 of several hundred feet. The barbed wire fences which divid- 

 ed certain of the flooded pastures, introduced a new element 

 of danger into the lives of these low-flying birds, and several 

 individuals were found hung on the barbs. 



The White-faced Glossy Ibises were of special interest 

 to us, but they were exceedingly shy and the absence of 

 cover made it difficult for us to get near enough to hear their 

 nasal ooh-ick-ooh-ick as they took wing. On several 

 occasions, however, we were privileged to see flocks of from 

 ten to forty of these usually dignified birds perform a sur- 

 prising evolution. In close formation, they soared skyward 

 in a broad spiral, mounting higher and higher until, in this 

 leisurely and graceful manner, they had reached an eleva- 

 tion of at least 500 feet. Then, without a moment's pause 

 and with thrilling speed, they dived earthward. Some times 

 they went together as one bird, at others each bird steered 

 its own course, when the air seemed full of plunging, dart- 

 ing, crazy Ibises. When about fifty feet from the ground, 

 their reckless dash was checked and, on bowed wings, they 

 turned abruptly and shot upward. Shortly after, like the 

 rush of a gust of wind, we heard the humming sound caused 

 by the swift passage through the air of their stiffened 

 pinions. 



On our first visit to Los Banos, we were in the field only 



