558 The Water-fowl Family 



get good shooting on him in August on his 

 breeding-grounds around Klamath Lake, and 

 from then until April can find him at his best 

 in many parts of California. 



Nearly all that is fair and lovely in the com- 

 bination of sunshine and birds finds its climax 

 at the mouth of the Colorado River. It is one 

 of the few places where all the birds that love 

 the water and the shore can now find rest for 

 their weary wings. It still lies in all its virgin 

 simplicity, and a trip from Yuma, about one hun- 

 dred and sixty miles, will well repay the time 

 and cost to those who love something far beyond 

 the orbit of the tenderfoot. It can be done by 

 wagon, but a canoe should be carried, and a 

 better way is by large boat down the river. A 

 special excursion generally has to be made up 

 at Yuma, where steamboats are available but no 

 reliance can be placed on regular boats. There 

 have been none since the railroad came to Yuma 

 over twenty years ago. If there were, it might 

 no longer be a trip worth taking. For the same 

 reason you cannot kill much game, for you can- 

 not even give it away. But any one who can 

 truly appreciate such a scene at all is quite well 

 satisfied in looking at the vast quantities of game 

 he will there see. Birds continue down each side 

 the Gulf of California wherever there are sloughs 

 or inlets for ducks and geese, while the shore- 



