66 U. S. p. R. E. EXP. AND SUKVEYS — ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 



SCOLOPAX WILSONII, T e m m .—Common Snipe. 



Sc.lopax mUonii, AuD. B. of A. Oct vol V, p. 339, pi. 350.— Ndtt. Om. fol. II p. 185. 

 Scolopax gallinago, WiLS. Am. Orn. vol. VI, p. 18, pi. 47, fig. 1. 

 Gallinago wiUonii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 710. 



Arrives in California in September and remains until April, frequenting the marshes and 

 moist grounds. When flushed it springs with a feeble squeak, and flying in rapid irregular 

 zig-zag lines, is soon beyond the sportsman's reach unless his eye be quick and his aim unerring. 



SCOLOPAX NOVEBORACENSIS, G m e 1 .—Red Breasted Snipe. 



S olpax noveboracensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 658. — Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 398. — AuD. B of A. 

 Oct. vol. VI, p. 1(1, pi. 351. 



I have occasionally met with these birds in flocks on marshy grounds and in the vicinity of 

 ponds. Gathering together after alighting they are often shot in large numbers while engaged 

 in search of worms, insects, and small snails, which abound in the localities they frequent. On 

 one occasion I procured, in two hours, over sixty of these birds, besides a dozen duck and teal. 



RECUR VIEOSTRA OCCIDENTALIS, Vigor .—Western Avocet. 



HecuruiroitTa occidenlalis, Yigoks, Zoolog. Journ. vol. IV, p. 356. — Ib. Zool. of Beechey's Voyage, p. 28, pi. 12. 



This species was observed in various parts of California, resorting to the shallow pools, in 

 which it wades breast deep, finding on the soft muddy bottom a plentiful feast of insects and 

 snails. Although half web-footed it does not swim unless wounded, when it takes immediately 

 to deep water, swimming with great celerity, soon advancing beyond range if not at once 

 disabled by a second shot. Specimens were obtained from a small fresh water pond at Liver- 

 more's Ranche, on the salt marshes of Suisun valley, and on the borders of the reedy swamps 

 covering a large portion of the lower part of the Sacramento valley. 



NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, W i 1 s o n .—Long-billed Curlew. 



Jfumenius longirosim, Wils. Am. Orn. vol VIII, p. 23, pi. 64, fig. 4. — Nutt. Orn vol. II, p. 94. — Aud. B. of A. Oct. 

 vol. VI, p. 35, pi. 355. 



These birds arrive in flocks in California during September, resorting to the fields and open 

 prairies, where they find an abundant supply of insects. Wild in their nature, always on the 

 alert, and the prairie offering no undulations behind which the hunter can approach unseen, 

 they are one of the most difficult game birds to secure. Their first whistle of alarm startles at 

 once the whole flock, which, taking to wing, speeds away a long distance before again settling 

 down. Abundant in fall and winter^ they migrate to the northern regions in spring for the 

 purposes of incubation. 



NUMENIUS BOREALIS, Lath .—Esquimaux Curlew. 



Kummius borealis, Lath. Birds, vol. IX, p. 180. — Nutt. Otn vol. II, p. lOL — Anc. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 45, pi. 357 

 A common game bird in the San Francisco market, though I did not myself procujre it. 



BERNICLA CANADENSIS, Linn .—Canada Goose. 



Anser canadensis, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 178, pi. 376. — Rioh. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 468. — Nutt. Orn. 



vol. II, p. 349. 

 Anas canadensis, Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VIII, p. 53, pi. 67, fig. 4. 



Common in California, but the least abundant of the four species found there. 



