A CALIFORNIA BEACH 



the spring, even though they are not to pair and 

 raise young ? — a question which, properly con- 

 sidered, might throw some light on the motive of 

 birds in general in undertaking their extremely 

 long and expensive spring journeys. If it is sim- 

 ply a homing instinct, it is hard to understand 

 why these scoters should not remain under its 

 influence even after they have passed the age of 

 procreation. 



And, secondly, it would be highly interesting 

 to know why this non-migratory, non-breeding 

 habit should be peculiar to these two kinds of 

 ducks. It is not unlikely, of course, that stray 

 individuals of other species may now and then, 

 for one reason and another, remain behind to 

 pass the summer south of their natural breed- 

 ing-Hmits ; but so far as the Check-List shows, 

 our two scoters are the only ducks that do this 

 with sufficient regularity, or in sufficient num- 

 bers, to make the fact worthy of mention. 



Scoters (or coots, as gunners call them) are 

 by no means the only birds that patrol our beach 

 in quest of crustacean dainties. Flocks of Hud- 

 sonian curlews may often be seen pursuing the 

 same game, though with their different equip- 

 ment they naturally follow a different method. 

 They go about the business as our numerous 

 fishermen do when in search of bait, not looking 

 33 



