THE CALIFOKNIAN OETIX. 228 



which in their habitat is unusual, hatch from eight to 

 ten young ; thus it is easily understood how they are so 

 abundant. 



Although not migratory, they are very erratic in their 

 habits ; the same cause as in the Virginian ortix being 

 doubtless the reason. 



From a custom they possess of sunning and dusting 

 themselves in very exposed and bare situations, immense 

 numbers fall victims to the birds of prey ; in fact, in Cali- 

 fornia, I believe they form the principal food for the 

 numerous species of Falconidee that infest its mountain 

 ranges ; report also states that the snakes have a penchant 

 for them, and prefer them to all other articles of food. 

 This is scarcely to be wondered at when we consider how 

 defenceless they are when seized, their excessive tameness, 

 and last, not least, their delicacy of flesh, if the taste of 

 birds of prey and snakes is to be judged of by that of the 

 human family. 



In Sonora and the south-western boundary of the 

 Appache range of country they are captured, with nets and 

 snares, in immense numbers by the Indians, it being no 

 unusual thing for hundreds to be taken in a single day. 



While residing in China, at Hong Kong, the idea struck 

 several friends and myself, from the constant communica- 

 tion there was between the Celestial land and San Francisco 

 by ship, that we might import these little beauties and 

 acclimate them there. After some delay we received about 

 twenty couple, eight of which we turned out in Ty-tan 

 Valley, Hong Kong, and the remainder in Shang-moon 

 Valley, in the opposite mainland. 



