14 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 11 
of information such as have brought the whole result to a more nearly satisfac- 
tory plane of accuracy. 
In running down records in literature it has become necessary to carry on 
considerable correspondence with officials connected with the museums in Wash- 
ington, D. C. It has proven desirable to verify many of the records made by the 
early surveys. I have been especially assisted in this way by Mr. Wells W. Cooke, 
of the Bureau of Biological Survey, who has always been cordial in his response 
to my very frequent enquiries. In similar ways, I have been freely assisted 
from time to time by Mr. Henry W. Henshaw, Dr. A. K. Fisher, Mr. Harry C. 
Oberholser, and Dr. Charles W. Richmond. 
One more specific source of information should here be mentioned. In 
December, 1910, I for the first time had the opportunity of examining Belding’s 
manuscript work on the ‘‘ Water Birds of the Pacific District’’, now deposited 
in the Bancroft Library of the University of California. This is constructed 
on very much the same lines as the same author’s ‘‘Land Birds of the Pacific 
District’’, published in 1890 as an Occasional Paper by the California Academy 
of Sciences. It consists largely of statements in regard to each species as quoted 
from various publications of the early writers on California birds. The results 
of Belding’s own personal observations are recorded at length; but many of 
these, although not so indicated, had already been published by him in various 
short articles. There remain, however, a good many notes, both of Belding’s 
own, and from certain correspondents of his, which are new. The most import- 
ant of these are Belding’s observations on the ducks and geese of the San Joa- 
quin and Sacramento valleys. Such of all these notes‘ as are clearly authentic, 
and as are found usable in the present paper, and at the same time have not 
been previously published, I have credited to ‘‘Belding, MS’’. 
It is proper that acknowledgment be made collectively to the host of observ- 
ers, members of the Cooper Ornithological Club, who have contributed at more 
or less length to our knowledge of California birds. In his capacity as Editor of 
The Condor, the writer has repeatedly suggested to individuals the desirability 
of publishing certain important facts communicated by letter or otherwise, and 
a favorable response has almost invariably been accorded. In the citations for 
details of specific occurrence in the following lists, full credit is given for practi- 
cally everything so furnished, and germane to the purpose of the paper. 
JOSEPH GRINNELL, 
California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 
May 1, 1915. 
