THE CALIFORNIA!* ORTCX. 215 



mense numbers fall victims to the birds of prey ; in 

 fact, in California, I believe they form the principal 

 food for the numerous species of Falconidse 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 

 communication 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. 



Although next shooting season they were diligently 

 searched for, I am unaware that any of them were 

 afterwards found climate, soil, or food, individually 

 or collectively, being doubtlessly unsuited for them. 



