162 
Kearns on Birds at Fort Klamath. 
which nest and pass the summer there.” * Ducks, Geese, Herons, 
Plovers, and Sandpipers are exceedingly abundant. Dr. J. S. New- 
berry, quoted above, thus describes (1. c., p. 101) the arrival of the 
Water-fowl in autumn : “ With the first October rain, vegetation 
begins to spring over all these prairies, and the Geese and Ducks 
now come in. Flock after flock in increasing numbers they come, 
until their flights rival those of the Passenger Pigeon, and the 
heavens are always marked by their characteristic triangles -and the 
air filled with their cries. The Ducks descend to the bays, streams, 
and lakes, and almost cover the smaller bodies of water, while the 
Geese settle on the prairie and feed upon the fallen grain of the 
oat, or the first tender sprigs of springing grass, which now begins 
to tinge the landscape with green.” 
Mrs. Wittich thus describes the bird islands in the lake : “ Look- 
ing toward the lake there were seen two or three white hills that 1 
should have supposed were snow-covered mountains, did they not 
have a background of higher mountains that were only streaked at 
the top with snow ; but the cause of my perplexity was explained 
on being told that it was the island in the lake, which is perfectly 
bare, and rises to a considerable height. During the breeding 
season it is covered with the eggs of Water-birds of many species.” 
The present list is necessarily very incomplete, and probably 
does not include much more than one half of the species that 
actually visit the Klamath Basin. 
Below is given a list of specimens, together with biographical 
notes and notices of other species that have been positively ascer- 
tained to occur by Lieutenant Wittich. A number of additional 
species are included on the authority of Dr. Henry McElderry, 
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., whose observations and collections 
were made contemporaneously with those of Lieutenant Wittich, 
and are officially recorded, at the post hospital, as “ Birds person- 
ally identified by Dr. Henry McElderry, Post Surgeon.” 
I take this means of expressing to Lieutenant Wittich my warm- 
est thanks for his constant efforts to procure rare specimens and 
important facts relating to the ornithology of his locality, as well as 
for many similar favors. 
I am also indebted to Mr. Henry W. Henshaw, for his kindness 
in examining several specimens, and the determination of certain 
obscure varieties, besides some important suggestions, which his 
* Dr. J. S. Newberry, Pacific Railroad Report, Vol. VI, Pt. IV, p. 99, 1857. 
