The Avifauna. 



31 



We have awarded a set of two eggs of the Golden 

 Eagle to Mr. W. S. Cobleigh, who won first prize 

 in the subscription contest. The second prize goes 

 to Mr. R. Vincent, the third to Mr Horace A. Gay- 

 lord and the fourth to Mr. O. W. Howard. 



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The Avifauna desires to extend thanks to Mr, 

 G. Frean Morcom for interesting notes and photo 

 of Condor ; also to Mr. M L Wicks, Jr., for valu- 

 able information and field notes, and to Mr. O. W. 

 Howard and several nienileis of the Annex for 

 valuable and much appreciated a.ssistance in mak- 

 ing this number what we modestly believe it to be 

 an Ai edition of neaty ornithological matter. 



■X- * * * 



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The Avifauna is much flattered that its esteemed 

 contemporary '■'• Sports Afield'' has shown its ap- 

 preciation of our first number by inserting in its 

 October issue adoptations from several of our best 

 articles, some mere extracts, others reproduced 

 bodily. As above stated we were much flattered 

 thereat, but would respectfully inform our e. c. 

 that we would be still more flattered if due credit 

 be given us in case " Sports Afield'" sees fit in the 

 future to make further extracts from the columns 

 of Avifauna. 



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The California bluejay, that beautiful bird of 

 gaudy plumage, will soon have its death-knell pro- 

 nounced. The bluejay is a predatory bird that 

 diligently and constanth- searches for the nests of 

 other birds and eats the eggs contained therein. 

 This is exceedingly discouraging to birds that are 

 laying, and quail are particularly aff"ected by it. 



The consequence is that a raid will soon be^ 

 commenced on bluejays with the hope of exter- 

 minating them. The Olympia Gun Club hopes to 

 secure the co-operation of all the sportsmen in the 

 State in this matter. The idea is to appoint some 

 one particular day, to be called "Jay Day," when 

 €very one who has a shotgun will sally forth to 

 shoot bluejays. 



Extracts from the Fish and Game Laws 

 of the State of California. 



Seventh Edition, 1895. 



In and around the port of Ensenada, Lower Cali- 

 fornia, pelicans are more plentiful than at any 

 point on this coast , It is estimated that fully ten 

 thousand of these birds can be seen at any time 

 from the Ensenada pier, all of them soaring above 

 the sea looking or diving for fish. Hundreds of 

 these birds constantly plunge beneath the waves, 

 seizing fish, and the surface of the ocean is dotted 

 with the splashes of these bird-plungers. They 

 are among the most expert fishers of the bird king- 

 dom, and at the single port of Ensenada they 

 probably capture thousands of pounds of fish 

 •daily. — L. A. Times. 



Killing, etc,, Birds in Cemeteries. 



598. Every person who, within any public 

 cemetery or burying ground, kills, wounds, or 

 traps any bird, or destroys any bird's nest, other 

 than swallows' nests, or removes any eggs or 

 young birds from any nest, is guilty of a mis- 

 demeanor. 



Valley Quail, Bob-White, Partridge, Robin, 

 Wild Duck or Rail. 



626. Every person who, in the State of Cali- 

 fornia, between the fifteenth day of February 

 and the fifteenth day of October in each 5'ear, 

 shall hunt, pursue, take, kill or destroy, or have 

 in his possession, whether taken in the State of 

 California or shipped into the State from any 

 other State, Territory, or foreign country, except 

 for purposes of propagation, any valley quail, 

 bob-white, partridge, robin, or any kind of wild 

 duck, or rail, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; 

 provided^ that the right to have in possession 

 for the purposes of propagation shall first be 

 obtained, by permit, in writing, from the Game 

 Warden of the county wherein said birds are to 

 be caught. 



riountain Quail or Grouse. 



626a. Every person who, in the State of Cali- 

 fornia, between the fifteenth day of February 

 and the fifteenth day of August in each year, 

 shall hunt, pursue, take, kill or destroy, or have 

 in his possession, whether taken or killed in 

 the State of California or shipped into the State 

 from any other State, Territory, or foreign 

 country, except for purposes of propagation, any 

 mountain quail or grouse, shall be guilty of a 

 misdemeanor; provided, that the right to have 

 in possession for the purposes of propagation 

 shall first be obtained; by permit, in writing, 

 from the Game Warden of the county wherein 

 said birds are to be caught. Every person who, 

 in the State of California, shall take, gather, or 

 destroy the eggs of any quail, bob-white, part- 

 ridge, pheasant, grouse, dove, or robin, or any- 

 kind of wild duck, shall be guilty of a mis- 

 demeanor. 



Doves. 



626^. Every person who, in the State of Cali- 

 fornia, between the fifteenth day of February 

 aud the first day of July in each year shall hunt, 

 pursue, take, kill, or destroy, or have in his pos- 

 sessihn any dove or doves, shall be guilty of a 

 misdemeanor. 



