l86 THE CONDOR Voi,. IX 



Going along the shore for a convenient place to pitch camp, Ducks, Geese and 

 Grebes, many with young, scurried out of range into the tules, that in some places 

 afforded nesting sites for the swimmers. Fifty or a hundred feet from shore where 

 the water in late years has risen to a foot or more on their trunks stand scores of 

 bleached and rotten pines, which nature seemed to provide for the sole use of the 

 bird kingdom. Of all the thousands of limbs on these trees I believe each one had 

 been bored into, pecked at or marked in some manner, by the multitude of Wood- 

 peckers, Sapsuckers and Nuthatches that inhabit the forest about the lake. There 

 was ever to be heard the shrill calls and chatter of these wood-dwellers in supply- 

 ing food for their young, and many interesting sights were observed from our din- 

 ner table in camp. 



For more than a month we enjoyed the solitude of this beautiful place, where, 

 after our long trip thru valley and mountains, our time was devoted to hunting and 

 fishing, the former including the pursuit of ornithology which was the main feature. 



The following list includes species seen on our travels thru Solano, Sutter, 

 Butte, Plumas and I^assen Counties; the identification of the birds and eggs of un- 

 certainty was completed with the aid of Mr. D. A. Cohen, for which I herewith 

 extend thanks. 



^chmophorus occidentalis. Western Grebe. Seen only at Kagle Lake, but 

 quite common there; young with parents seen frequently. One adult taken and a 

 set of four eggs on June 30. 



Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. Common breeder at the Lake; many 

 young seen. We watched a family feeding close to shore in a growth of water 

 lilies and dead tules; when they saw me, each bird sank like a rock until nothing 

 but his small head protruded. July 17, one adult was taken; and one young in 

 down was taken August 1 . 



Gavia imber. Common Loon. Fairly numerous at the Lake, but very wary 

 and hard to approach. A pair came close to shore on account of a thunder storm 

 and the female was secured. 



Sterna fosteri. Foster Tern. Seen along Feather River, Plumas Co., and 

 fairly numerous at the Lake. Found breeding on the northwest side of Lake 

 twelve miles from our camp. Three birds were taken. 



Hydrochelidon surinamensis. Black Tern. Very common at Big Meadows, 

 Plumas Co., Papoose Valley, and Eagle Lake. A few sets of eggs were taken at 

 Big Meadows, June 19. Old birds were taken at Eagle Lake and also immatures; 

 one chick in down taken on June 19 at Big Meadows. 



Phalacrocorax dilophus albociliatus. Farallone Cormorant. A large colony 

 were breeding in dead pines on the northwest side of the Lake. One bird was 

 taken. A few pairs were breeding on stumps of pine trees one hundred feet out in 

 the Lake on the east side. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. American White Pelican. A large colony was 

 said to be nesting at the northeast end of the Lake. As we had no means of get- 

 ting to the island where they bred, we failed to visit the birds. Stockmen told us 

 that on one occasion they had killed the nestlings with clubs on account of their 

 becoming so numerous. Many birds were seen by us in the Lake. 



Merganser americanus. American Merganser. Two or three broods seen at 

 the Lake, one juvenile taken July 14. 



Anas boschas. Mallard. Common at Lake; several old birds were seen with 

 young half grown. 



Ouerquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. Several flocks seen at Lake. Three 



