A CALIFORNIA BEACH 



for many species of water-birds, and by conse- 

 quence a favorite resort for the local ornitholo- 

 gist. 



Distant be the day, say I, when the city fathers 

 shall take it into their thrifty heads to improve 

 it out of existence, to make room for another 

 park, it may be, or an additional " residence dis- 

 trict." It is something better than a residence 

 district already; a first-class caravansery, well 

 patronized year after year by bands of distin- 

 guished travelers on their way northward or 

 southward as the seasons shift. 



They keep it in mind, it would appear, as a 

 convenient spot in which to break their long 

 journey ; for even the stoutest pair of wings may 

 without shame welcome a breathing-space here 

 and there between the neighborhood of the North 

 Pole and the southern parts of South America. 

 It suits their purpose the better that it lies 

 within the city limits, and except by stealth is 

 not invaded by shotguns. Ducks of many sorts 

 swim here in safety by the month together. If 

 ill-mannered dogs find it amusing to pester them, 

 as too often happens, they have only to circle 

 about on the wing for a minute or two and come 

 down again in a different pool or ditch, behind 

 another curtain of reeds. 



They have no minds, of course, or none to 

 15 



