Jan., 1903 NOTES FROM THE DIARY OF A NATURAIvIST IN NORTHERN CALIF. 39 



part of every duck hunter's bag. They often spend the day in the open ocean and 

 return to the marshes to feed at night. 



Spatula clypeata. Shoveler. These ducks appear to fall an easy prey to the 

 duck hunters. They are nearly always seen in a bag of any size. Observed at 

 Crescent City, Orick and Trinidad. 



Dafila acuta. Pintail. Seen at Klamath Ivake during early October. Many 

 Teal were observed in the region of Klamath Lake, but by curious chance they were 

 seen either at a distance or were flushed from ponds and wet meadows at dusk when 

 their markings could not be seen. Flocks of Blue-bills were seen at Requa and 

 Orick but as no specimens were taken, their identity can not be stated. Scoters 

 were frequently seen resting lazily just outside the surf at Crescent City or flying 

 heavily just above the water. Pure white geese were seen on an inland lagoon 

 between Orick and Trinidad. 



Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. This bird was abundant about Lower 

 Klamath Lake during our stay there. Gaut shot a fine male with the rifle. An 

 immature bird of one of the smaller subspecies was secured at Lower Klamath Lake 

 in a peculiar manner. A flock was seen rapidly flying in a wedged-shaped flock 

 toward where we stood near a barn. Suddenly seeing us the flock quickly veered 

 upwards and to one side and for a moment it was in complete confusion. Sudden- 

 ly from the midst of the beating wings a helpless bird fluttered down to the ground. 

 The bird was easily captured alive, but unfortunately was not preserved. These 

 smaller geese (Jiutchi)isii or minimus) were about Lower Klamath Lake in great 

 abundance, and their return from their feeding grounds in the direction of Butte 

 Valley lying south of the Lake, was an impressive spectacle. The lake and its ad- 

 joining plain is girdled by low hills and ridges and into this amphitheater countless 

 numbers of the geese, and their larger cousins, the Canada Geese, would come at 

 night to roost. The air resounded with the din of harsh, squeaking, cackling notes, 

 which could be likened to nothing so much as to the creak of an ungreased wagon- 

 wheel. A reminder of this experience was had at Crescent City where the geese 

 during foggy weather and at dusk would pass from the ocean to some unknown 

 feeding ground inland. 



Branta nigricans. Black Brant. This bird is probably of more or less com- 

 mon occurrence in suitable localities in the Siskiyou mountains. In 1890 while 

 staying at Beswick, I can remember a Black Brant being shot in the tall grass bor- 

 dering Klamath River, and just back of the Klamath Hot Springs Hotel. On Sep- 

 tember 26, 1905, a flock of four of these birds was flushed from a swampy clearing 

 near Topsey. 



Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern. One or two seen at Lower Klam* 

 ath Lake. 



Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. Common at Marshalls, Beswick and 

 Klamath Lake. 



Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. This bird was exceedingly plentiful about 

 Lower Klamath Lake and Meiss Lake at the southern end of Butte Valley. 



Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. One seen at Crescent City. 



Porzana Carolina. Sora Rail. Seen at Lower Klamath Lake. 



Fulica americana. American Coot. This bird was first met with near Beswick 

 under very peculiar circumstances. While setting traps on a high brushy ridge 

 about five miles from the Klamath River, a large black bird awkwardly fluttered out 

 of a clump of mountain mahogany. As it flew clumsily down into the canyon of 

 Shovel Creek, it was plainly identified as an American Coot. Possibly a weary 

 migrant had fallen into this predicament thru sheer exhaustion. This species was 



