230 
THE COXDOK 
Vol. XV 
TABLE ENUMERATING DEAD BIRDS FOUND ON LEVEES I TO V INCLUSIVE, AS SHOWN 
IN ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAM (FIG. 72 ). NUMBER OF DEAD ARE SEEN TO HAVE 
BEEN steadily increasing DURING THE TIME OF THE INVESTIGATION 
Date of count 
Sc ft. 3(1 
Oct. 1 
Oct. 2 
Oct. 3 
Oct. 5 
Levees 
] 
TI 
III 
IV 
V 
Totals 
Teal 
52 
79 
377 
134 
642 
Pintail 
25 
55 
166 
325 
571 
Spoonbill 
32 
25 
201 
282 
540 
Sandpipers 
2 
7 
27 
10 
46 
Stilts 
3 
15 
3 
21 
Coots 
2 
9 
6 
17 
Avocet 
4 
7 
11 
Cormorant 
6 
2 
8 
Gulls 
2 
1 
1 
2 
6 
Pelican 
3 
3 
Unclassified 
214 
214 
Totals 
118 
186 
800 
761 
214 
Grand total 
. 2079 
Average number of ducks per mile on lirst four levees, 467 ; average of all kinds of 
liirds, 497. Numbers within levees not counted. 
Levees: No. 1 Three-fourths mile long 0 to 25 feet wide 
No. 11 One mile long 30 to 40 
No. Ill 10 to 30 “ 
No. IV “ ■' •• 10 to 25 “ 
No. V Half mile long 20 to 30 
( Width of levees measured from edge of water on one side to edge of water on the other 
side.) 
Fig. 71 . Sick .\nd dead ducks on levee at Tulare Lake, September 21 , 1913 ; the 
SICK BIRDS ARE UNABLE TO FLY OR WALK; THEY REMAIN IN THIS PARALYTIC STATE 
FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE DEATH 
made included just those birds which remained on the levees after our approach. 
Xo birds were counted wliich were able to scramble into the ivater and swim oft' : 
only those which were dead or too sick to travel were enumerated. Two men 
generally conducted the count, — one to call off the names of the birds, the other 
to tabulate them. 
Of course it was impossible to estimate the number of dead birds on the lake 
from the numbers on the levees alone, because, in the first place, more birds died 
on the levees than elsewhere, the sick and well both making an effort to attain 
these resting places during the day ; and, secondly, the strong north winds blew 
the carcasses of those dying on the water southward against the levees. In near- 
ly everv case there were more dead birds on the north and west sides of the levees 
