LOWER KLAMATH LAKE 295 



500 feet above the river, we found the view to the south note- 

 worthy, even in California. At this point we entered a 

 primeval forest of thickly growing firs, yellow and sugar 

 pines and a few cedars, and having attained an altitude of 

 about 4300, or 2000 feet above Beswick, we began the 

 descent toward Keno. 



The forest trees decreased in size and number as we 

 journeyed toward the more arid east, and several miles east 

 of Keno a few scattered junipers marked the limit of this 

 horizontal timberline. 



We arrived at Keno at three o'clock and embarked on a 

 small steamer which, following a narrow stream through 

 the far-reaching tule marshes, made the tewnty-two miles to 

 Klamath Falls in two hours. 



This prettily situated town of several thousand inhabi- 

 tants was in the throes of a boom in anticipation of the 

 developments incident to the work of the Reclamation Ser- 

 vice in draining and irrigating. Good lodging was secured 

 with difficulty, and then through hospitable, rather than 

 commercial motives. 



Our search for a boat in which to visit the bird islands, 

 distant some thirty miles, very fortunately resulted in the 

 discovery of a recently completed 18-foot launch with a 

 gasolene engine capable of driving it eight miles an hour. 



At 2 p. m. on June 30, the day after our arrival, Hittell 

 and I, with Ray Telford the owner as engineer, embarked in 

 this launch for Lower Klamath Lake. While one would not 

 select this type of craft from which to observe birds, it 

 possesses conspicuous advantages over a canoe or rowboat 

 as a means of rapid and easy transportation. 



We retraced a part of our course to Keno, then leaving 

 the main stream, turned into a narrow passage between 

 walls of tules, through which we slipped at high speed. 

 Black-crowned Night Herons were stationed along the 

 shore at short intervals waiting, as usual,, for their prey to 

 come within striking distance, but on one occasion, jumping 



