32 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 7 



101. (205) Grus canadensis (Linnaeus). Little Brown Crane. 



As this bird usually migrates over southern California without stopping, 

 it is impossible to estimate its abundance, particularly because at the height that 

 it generally maintains in migration, it can not be differentiated with certainty 

 from the next species. J. Grinnell notes the two following records for the 

 Little Brown Crane in this vicinity. One specimen taken from a flock of 

 twenty-five or thirty birds by R. Reynolds, near Newport, Orange County, 

 some time in the late 90's. Mr. Reynolds stated that he saw another flock Of 

 about a hundred birds at the same time and place. Mr. Grinnell saw this bird 

 while it was in the possession of Mr. Reynolds and confirms his identification. 

 The other record noted by Mr. Grinnell is that of an adult male and immature 

 female, now nos. 11440 and 11441 collection of Outram Bangs. These birds 

 were secured fresh in the Los Angeles market by H. S. Swarth, March 21, 

 1904. They were said to have been shot on the Centinela ranch, about twelve 

 miles southwest of Los Angeles (Condor xi, 1909, 128). W. Frank took an 

 immature bird near Long Beach, Los Angeles County, March 24, 1912. L. H. 

 Miller had a mounted specimen of the Little Brown Crane that was taken with 

 another bird, apparently of the same species, by his brother, Holmes Miller, 

 near Riverside, February 19, 1893. 



102. (206) Grus mexicana (Miiller), Sandhill Crane. 



Common during migrations, which occur in September and October, and 

 in March and April. Occasional during the winter. This species has been 

 noted plentifully in all parts of southern California during its migrations. I 

 have often seen them flying directly over Los Angeles. F. S. Daggett has 

 observed them on grain fields near Pasadena in winter (Grinnell, Pub. 2, Pasa- 

 dena Acad. Sci., 1898, 15). 



103. (210.1) Rallus levipes Bangs. Light-footed Rail. 



This species, originally described from specimens taken at Newport, Orange 

 County (Proc. New Eng. Zool. Club i, 1899, 45), is a common resident on salt 

 and brackish marshes near the coast, but becoming scarcer every year. At 

 extreme high tides it swims on the water after the fashion of the Coot, and, 

 as it is easily approached, it is killed in large numbers by the hunters. In 

 many marshes where it was formerly common it has been practically extermi- 

 nated. Eggs are generally deposited in April and early May. I found a set 

 of nine fresh eggs at "Bay City, Orange County, March 19, 1910, and a set of 

 nine, half incubated, at Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, June 14, 1906. 



104. (212) Rallus virginianus Linnaeus. Virginia Rail. 



Fairly common resident on both salt and fresh water marshes, south at 

 least to San Diego County. Breeds in April and May. W. L. Chambers took 

 two sets of fresh eggs at Ballona, Los Angeles County, April 13, 1902, and 

 O. W. Howard took a set of six eggs near Newport, Orange County, May 13, 

 1906. L. Peyton found a nest containing two young birds and one egg, near 

 Sespe, Ventura County, in June, 1907. A. M. Ingersoll informs me that the 

 Virginia Rail is rare during the breeding season in San Diego County. He 



