ff/ie Birds on Buena Visfa Lalce. 
83 
scuttled into the tules. Moorhens, mostly in pairs, beat a more 
leisurely retreat. These cliflfer from our bird, in having 
a rather larger shield upon the forehead. As the water 
shallows the tules stand higher out of it, and many of them 
were now quite twelve feet high and it was very hard and 
hot work forcing a way through them. At last I got out 
but found comparatively few liirds upon the feeding grounds. 
In the season at daybreak, the Ducks literally darken the 
sky, when they leave for the open Avater, and the noise of 
their wings sounds like half-a-dozen express trains dash- 
ing through a tunnel. A pair of Greenshanks were feeding 
on a near by mud-bank. These birds were uncommon and 
I have never seen more than one or two together. In the 
shallow water and with the pole I now made good progress^ 
Most of the birds passed, were the same as those already 
described. Very noticeable, however, were the fish-eating 
Snakes, of whicli there were hundreds. Tn some places a 
dozen or more were wrapped up together, enjoying the heat 
of the sun. They seldom exceed fift. in length, but can easily 
swallow a 41b. fish. T also passed a good many Terrapin. 
These are about as Ivig over as a tea plate and are much 
sought after for the city markets. Ar. I got near the eastern 
shore I noticed a flock of dark Waders. These turned out 
to lie Bronze This, and they contrasted very prettily with 
their companions, Herons and Egrets. These birds allowed nie 
ro pass within fifteen yards of them before they walked quietly 
away. I am informed that both varieties used to breed upon 
the lake, but llicy have not done so of recent years, owing 
to the persecution of the plume hunters. On the way up 
the cana! to camp I passed an immature Great Northern 
Diver. I have never seen the old birds out there. Too far 
south, I suppose. It was now nearly sun-down, and thou- 
sands of Eedwinged (Agclaens phonicous), and Yellow-headed 
{Xanfhoeephalus xanfliorephalus) Starlings were returning to 
roost in the tules. The noise they make at roosting time, 
closely resembled the murmur of our English birds. 
Tn conclusion I Avould say that there are many other 
varieties of birds on the Lake that I have not mentioned, 
and to anyone fond of oi-nithology, a month or two on Buena 
Vista would make an ideal holiday. 
