Pasadena Academy of Sciences. Publication II. 



and along the streams, there are numerous fresh water ponds and swamps. The 

 plains which comprise the major part of this region, extend almost unbrokenly, 

 gently sloping up to the base of the mountains. However, on the eastern and 

 western margins are ranges of hills or low mountains, furrowed by ravines and 

 canyons. The dry, elevated slopes lying along the base of the Sierra Madre 

 range, at an elevation of 600 to 1200 feet, I have termed the mesa region in dis- 

 tinction from the lower plains lying toward the coast. The high mesas are 

 crossed by broad sandy washes and arroyos, and thus more nearly resemble the 

 desert on the opposite side of the mountains. The brush-covered foot-hills rise in 

 successively higher spurs and ridges, culminating in the lofty mountain ranges 

 which form the desert divide. The higher mountains are clothed with heavy con- 

 iferous forests, while the canyons are lined with alders and sycamores. Exten- 

 sive oak forests cover portions of the mesas and lowlands, especially along the 

 western border of the county. 



The water birds known to occur around the neighboring islands of Santa Cat- 

 alina and Santa Barbara, and in the intermediate Santa Barbara Channel, are of 

 course considered as belonging to the I^os Angeles County fauna, but the land 

 birds of the mainland only are included. The water birds of this county have 

 been given but very little attention. Mr. A. M. Shields, to whom I am greatly 

 indebted for notes on the major part of the game birds, has in fact done almost 

 the only work in that line. The sea birds can be but poorly represented, when 

 we consider the number which should and undoubtedly do occur along our coast 

 and in the adjacent ocean channel. The land birds, however, I believe to be very 

 well covered, at least those of regular occurrence, and besides these it will be 

 noted that there are several rather unexpected stragglers. 



It is hoped that this initiatory effort at cataloguing our native birds will be a 

 basis for further and more extended observations in this comparatively little 

 known region. 



I wish to extend njy thanks especially to Messrs. Frank S. Daggett, Horace 

 A. Gaylord and G. F. Morcom for aid and suggestions and for critically reading 

 the manuscript. I am also indebted to the following observers for more or less 

 extended local lists or notes: Ralph Arnold, Walter E. Bryant, Lee Chambers, 

 A. J. Cook, Evan Davis, Chas. E. Groesbeck, Frank J. Illingworth, Frank B. Jew- 

 ett. Will B. Judson, Harry J. Leland, A. I. McCormick, Virgil W. Owen, Earl D. 

 Parker, Howard Robertson, Edward Simmons, Frank Stephens, Harry S. Swarth 

 and M. L. Wicks, Jr. 



For identification of specimens I owe my sincerest thanks to Prof. Robert 

 Ridgway and Mr. William Palmer of the National Museum, and to Messrs. A. W. 

 Anthony and William Brewster. 



Finall}', to the Pasadena Academy of Sciences, I express my gratitude for en- 

 abling me to publish this paper. 



Pasadena, California, JOSEPH GRINNELL. 



February 21, 1898. 



