Wh(^ Birds on Buena Vista Lake. 
79 
These are all episodes of the old aviary and, Avith the 
usual optimism that sets in about this time of the year, 
I now look forward to better happenings in the new aviary 
this season, 
♦ 
The Birds on Buena Vista Lake, Southern 
California 
By Wm. Shore Baily. 
{Continued from page 57). 
The White Brant {Chen Jii/perhorea) or Snow Goose 
is one of the commonest bii'ds on the Lake. Its pure 
white body and black wing tips make it a very con- 
spicuous object. The Black Brant {Branta nigricans) are 
about thn same size, and might easily be mistaken for mini- 
ature Canadas. A flock of Canadas {Branta canadensis) were 
sleeping further out. These are quite twice the size of any 
of the other American Geese, a gander easily weighing 1 .5 
lbs. All these Geese do an immense amount of damage to 
the grain and alfalfa fields. At certain times of the year, 
the ranchers have to employ a small army of men to destroy 
them. Whilst I was looking out on the lake my little dog 
had been busy hunting on its own account in the bushes, and 
he presently proudly brings me back a Cotton-tail Rabbit. 
There are two varieties of these little animals. One exactly 
like our English Babbit but about half the size, and the 
other still smaller, of a bluish -grey colour, and without the 
white tail. The dog next put up a flock of Quail. These 
birds are very numerous all over the State, and one finds 
them in all sorts of surroundings. In the mountains, there is 
another handsome variety, also crested, but equal in size to 
our English Partridge. I do not know its local or scientific 
name. The call is like that of a hen Turkey. The sun was 
now near setting, so selecting a sheltered spot, I soon had 
a fire going, and a comfortable bed of dried tules prepared. 
The Cotton-tail proved a welcome addition to our supper, which 
consisted of flapjacks, preserved fruit, and coffee. Tn these 
latitudes there is hardly any twilight, and although it may 
seem absurd to us in England to go to bed at 7 o'clock, 
when camping out there is really nothing else to do. Wrapped 
in my blankets on a soft bed of tules, with the little dog to 
