May, 1916 
A POPULOUS SHORE 
107 
the wave hardened beach to the level where drifted seaweed and hummocky 
sand gave protection and soft resting places, I discovered a large circle of 
quiet birds. The big Godwits stood on the outside of the circle and next to 
them about thirty Surf-birds, most of them sitting down, while inside was a 
close bunch of Sandpipers. It, was a beautiful sight! But, alas, a number 
of both Godwits and Surf-birds were maimed. Poor creatures, turning to 
each other for companionship in their man-inflieted suffering. Wounded birds 
were on every side— broken-legged Godwits, crippled Surf-brrds, cheerful 
little Sandpipers stumping around pitifully on one foot, and a poor little 
trot of a Snowy Plover with one leg dangling, together with beautiful Gulls, 
one apparently with a leg shot entirely off. This horrid maiming increased 
until I felt thankful when even the smallest Sandpiper put one foot down 
before the other and trotted off normally. And when a man in khaki aimed 
at one individual, picked it up instantly, and killed it humanely, he stood 
apart as a legitimate sportsman, one who, like the scientific collector, shoots 
to kill and considers it a disgrace to maim. But to stone flocks of waders, to 
shoot scavenger Gulls, and murder tame Cormorants — surely the hunting 
instinct needs education and regulation ! Meanwhile automobiles hurry down 
to the gun clubs with callow youths and pump guns. 
When a gunman had driven all my water birds from the beach, one 
morning I went down the weed thickets between the shore and the marsh, 
discovering among others a Song Sparroiv, a Shrike, a Black Phoebe, a Yellow- 
throat, a number of Belding Sparrows, and a charming little Tule Wren; also 
finding the flock of Meadowlarks which had been singing delightfully morn- 
ings although it was the last week in October. Prom the weed thickets I went 
on down to the sand dunes so solidly compacted that walking over them was 
almost as exhilarating as walking on crust. At the foot of the beautiful dunes 
grew queer succulent plants suggesting curls and varying from green to 
dark reddish, while on the dunes grew various vines and flowers that made 
me wish for the knowledge of a botanist. The dunes overlooked the marshes 
which between their intersecting waterways were ruddy with some interest- 
ing plant. Small aggravat.ingly vague Rail-like forms were seen creeping 
stealthily along the edge of some of the patches of open water and there were 
hints of exciting possibilities. What rare delight it would be to paddle 
silently through these waterways and really see the birds and plants hidden 
there — to sit quietly in your boat and see the great flocks of Ducks come string- 
ing over from the ocean, hundreds of them tired from long journeying com- 
ing to rest in the quiet waters of the lagoons! Worlds of birds were there 
already but too far away for recognition. 
Although I could not see the multitudes of birds that frequented the 
marshes, besides the Gulls and waders who were regular habitues of my strip 
of beach there were many passers-by who looked in on our shores. A solitary 
Loon, slender-billed and tailless, was seen swimming near one day, looking 
in shore with yellow eyes ; and a few Terns of different sizes were seen, some- 
times plumping down into the water, sometimes flying high, headed over the 
sea. While looking out over the ocean one morning I was delighted to dis- 
cover the droll figures of four great California Brown Pelicans coming down 
the shore. With necks drawn in, huge bills pointing down, and wings flapping, 
they suggested ancient dwarfs with huddled-in forms. Three more passed 
down the next morning, such big droll creatures that men on the beach 
