406 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



tion ; and I have seen a triangle flying steadily high over my 

 head, composed of individuals of three species, each plainly 

 distinguishable by its plumage, but each holding its place in 

 the geometrical figure, as though it was composed of entirely 

 homogeneous material ; perhaps unequal members of the 

 darker species, with three, four, or more pure snow-white 

 geese flying together somewhere in the converging lines." 



Among the ducks of California are the mallard and canvas- 

 back. The meat of the latter has not so fine a flavor as in the 

 Eastern States, probably because it does not here find the wild 

 celery upon which it feeds along the streams of the middle 

 States. 



Many of the geese and ducks pass the winter in California, 

 where they find an abundance of food in the grain-fields and 

 tules. 



The murre, or foolish guillemot, ( Uria ringviri) is similar to 

 the gulls, seventeen inches long, dark-brown above and white 

 beneath, with transverse stripes of ashy-brown on its sides. 

 Its throat is brown in summer and white in winter. It fre- 

 quents the islands along the coast, and lays its eggs there on 

 the bare ground or rocks. These eggs are wonderfully irregu- 

 lar in form, size, and color, but are generally about three 

 and a half inches long, sea-green in color, with dark-brown 

 spots of angular shapes on them. Quantities of these eggs 

 are obtained every year at the Farallones, and are sold in the 

 San Francisco market at about half the price of hens' eggs 

 per dozen, or, if taken by weight, at one-fourth. Their taste, 

 however, is rank, and they are not used by those who can af- 

 ford to buy hens' eggs. 



Dr. Heermann says : " At one o'clock every day during the 

 egg season, Sundays and Thursdays excepted, (this is to give 

 the birds some little respite) the egg-hunters meet on the 

 south side of the island. The roll is called, to see that all are 

 present, that each one may have an equal chance in gathering 

 the spoil. The signal is given, every man starting off at a full 



