PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
405 
geese are said to be good to eat, but we found them all fishy ; not so CHAP, 
the ducks, the greater part of which are very palatable : these birds, of ,3^!^ 
which we procured about twenty species, and the mallard, are so com- Dec. 
mon that several were frequently killed at one shot. It was observed 
that some kinds of ducks always preferred salt water to the lakes, par- 
ticularly a species Muth a dark-coloured body and a white head, which 
we did not obtain. Among those which frequent the fresh water there 
were generally an abundance of water-hens. Pelicans (pelicanus oiio- 
cratulus) may be seen morning and evening winging their long line of 
flight accross the harbour, and settling upon the little island of Alca- 
trasses, which they have completely covered with their exuvim, and 
rendered extremely offensive to persons passing near the place. Shags 
(pelicanus graculus) also abound in the harbour. 1 ought to have 
noticed in its proper place the humming bird, which, notwithstanding 
the high latitude of the country, is an inhabitant of the woods, and if 
we may rely upon Padre Tomaso, may be seen there all the year round. 
We noticed several of them fluttering about some gooseberry bushes 
near our anchorage, and shot one in full flesh: as this was in the middle 
of winter, the information of the padre was probably correct. 
To this list of birds several were added the succeeding year at 
Monterey, which, being found so near the place we are describing, may 
justly be classed with them : these consisted of the golden- winged wood- 
pecker, a goat-sucker, several species of small birds unknown to us, and 
a golden-crested w^en. At this place there were also several species 
oipicus. 
I shall pass rapidly over the reptiles, which are not numerous at 
Sjin F rancisco, and none were procured during our stay. The Spaniards 
assert that there is an adder in the woods which is venomous, and that 
there are rattlesnakes upon the island of Molate in the harbour; but we 
saw neither the one nor the other, notwithstanding Mr.Elson and a boat’s 
crew landed upon Molate, which is very small indeed, 
Fish are not much sought after in California, in consequence of 
the productions of the land being so very abundant ; several sorts, 
however, are brought to the tables of the missions. In the Pay of 
Monterey we noticed the scomber colias, and another kind of mackerel, 
