56 A Jonmrtj Across the Sirrras — S. California. 
to the valley. Our roa.d lay through randies mainly devoted 
to walnut growing, this being the principal walnut producing 
section in the State. Thousand.^; of tons are shipped East 
annually, and the industry is a very prosperous one. Fog 
prevented us from seeing any birds, but about mid -day it 
cleared, and we found that we were si^irting a large lagoon 
on the one side, and on the other large fields of brilliant blue 
flowers, which I have since been told were flax. On the mud 
banks in the Lagoon were large flocks of Waders. Quite close 
to the road Avocets (Becvrinrosfris amoricann) and Stilts 
(Himanfopus mexieanns) were feeding, whilst farther out hun- 
dreds of Whimbrel {Nnmenius hudsonicus) and a few Curlew 
{N . longirosfris) were busy probing in the mud. I 'have shot 
scores of these Whimbrel and also of the European variety (N. 
phaeopus) and I am quite unable to differentiate between them. 
Their whistle is also iiidistinguishable from the p]uropean iiirds' 
call. 
After lunch I took the dog for a ,stroll along the saltings 
and he flushed a large Rail (BaUus ohsolefus), a bird about the 
size of our Moorhen, but coloured like our Water Rail. T shot 
it and it proved fairly good eating at supper. We also got 
quite close to a pair of Snowy Egrets (Ardea cgrctia) now 
in full breeding plumage and looking very handsome. 
Several big Grey Herons {A. herodias) were also fishing in 
the shallow water. Several kinds of Gulls, including Herring 
(Larus argentatus), Black-backed (L. occidentalis), and Cali- 
fornian Black-headed Gull (L. jihi/adpJphiciis) were swimming 
or flying over the water. 'A few cormorants (PhaJacroeorax 
penicillaius) were also present. They appear to be much more 
numerous on inland waters than they are on the coast. 
On returning from my walk we resumed our journey 
along the coast towards Santa Barbara. A range of low sand- 
hills hid the sea, Init the low roar of the surf could be plainly 
heard, and made us long for a real good swim once more in 
salt water. We passed numerous ranches, most of them largely 
given uj) to fruit-growing, but here and there alfalfa, flax, and 
barley were also cultivated. In the orchards the Blue Birds and 
the Orioles were the birds most frequently noticed, probably 
because of their brilliant colours. In the alfalfa and growing 
grain Larks and Doves were the commonest birds. Late in 
