370 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Sek. 



I wish also to express to Mr. Fair and Mr. Reed the 

 Academy's appreciation of the splendid results which they at- 

 tained in the preparation of this group, and to Captain Hudson 

 equal appreciation of the unusually artistic and beautiful back- 

 ground. 



Audubon Cottontail Group. — This is one of the small panel 

 groups completed in the past year. This interesting little rabbit 

 was originally described from San Francisco by Professor 

 Baird who named it for John James Audubon, the great Ameri- 

 can ornithologist. It occurs not only in the San Francisco Bay 

 region but its range extends northward in the Sacramento Val- 

 ley at least as far as Tehama County, and southward in the 

 San Joaquin Valley to Merced County. In Golden Gate Park it 

 is, next to the squirrels, the most familiar and attractive of the 

 native mammals. It is found throughout the Park wherever 

 suitable cover exists. One or more pairs may be seen almost 

 any day, particularly early in the morning or late in the eve- 

 ning, feeding at the edge of the large patch of procumbent 

 bushes of the Stink-bean (Albizsia lophantha) on the hillside 

 on the east side of the walk just after passing through the first 

 tunnel when entering the Park from Tenth Avenue. These 

 little "bunnies" make their home under these bushes. From 

 this safe retreat they come out to feed upon the grass nearby. 

 As you pass by this place you can see that the little rabbits keep 

 the grass pretty thoroughly eaten off for several feet about the 

 bushes. 



The plant shown in the group is the Thimbleberry, Rubus 

 parviiiorus. 



This group was prepared by Mr, Paul J. Fair, assisted by 

 Mr. Arthur L. Reed. The background was painted by Miss 

 Olive E. Cutter. 



Water Ousel Group. — This is another of the small pancr 

 groups completed within the year. Of the many interesting 

 birds which one may see in the mountains of California there 

 is none more interesting or attractive than the Water Ouzel 

 with its plump little body, slaty gray plumage, and very unusual 

 habits. Wherever there is a stream of clear, turbulent, run- 

 ning water, there you may possibly find these curious little 

 birds. You may see one standing on a rock jutting out from 



