A Journri/ Across the Sierras— f^. California. 299 
In the clear morning light, the entrance to the pass looked 
not more than three or four hours' journey distant, Imt we 
knew hy experience that it would take at least ten hours. 
Our way iov the fii'st few niiles led along the "edge: 
of \\w lake.' Away on the open water, White Pelicans {Peli- 
eanii-i rri/fho>hifnehiis) now returned from the Mexican 
lagoons, were going about in pairs, very evidently intent 
on the business of nesting. On the edges of the tales young 
Redheads (Mareea americana) and Coots {Fulica americana) 
were swimming, while further in, the quack of the female 
Mallard tells us that young flappers are also on the feed. A 
mile or two after leaving the lake, we struck a patch of very 
heavy sand. Here our waggon sank in to the axle, and even with 
both our shoulders to the wheels, we were unable to make 
more than a mile an hour. Luckily after a couple of miles 
we struck hard ground again. Whilst we were resting in 
this sand patch, I noticed a little colony bf Desert Chipmunks. 
They were tlie same size as the common Striped Chipmunk, 
but were the colour of the sand. Although they, couldn't) 
hav- seen human beings more than half-a-dozen times in the 
y,''ar, if cit^'ii, yer they were very ishy, and disappeared 
down their holes on my approaching too near them. T have 
not seen them elsewhere in California. This part of the 
l)rairie was most uninteresting, and liird life except for a few 
Turkey Buzzards {Bhi?infjri/phi(s aura) was altogether abs(>nt 
A dwai'fed and stunted Sage Rush was the only vegetation. 
Here we saw one of the most realistic mirages T have met 
with in California. Some 200 to P>00 yards in front of 
us, there appeared a beautiful lake, with fine willows and 
cottonwoods growing along one bank. A slight breeze rippled 
the blue water, and little waves could be seen l)reaking on the 
shingle. As we approached nearer, we could see the leaves 
of th(^ trees quivering as they do in a light breeze. Tt only 
wanted a few waterfowl swimming on the water to complete 
the illusion. When apparently only 100 yards distant, it 
suddenly vanished, leaving a broad tract of sandy desert in its 
place. It made us both feel frightfully thirsty, and one can 
well imagine the despair of any poor devil who met with this 
experience when his water canteen was empty. Mirages on 
the Lake weie of fie.juent occurrence, generally in the early 
