396 SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
ginosa. Specimens are sometimes seen of most enormous 
size, measuring nearly four feet in length, and from ten to 
twelve across the wings. 
There are probably many yet undescribed birds and qua¬ 
drupeds in this country. The author’s sketches in this depart¬ 
ment are necessarily rather those of a traveller than a natu¬ 
ralist, and he has been obliged to content himself with men¬ 
tioning those species which casually came within his own 
notice. It is very probable that many inaccuracies may be 
detected both in his nomenclature and descriptions, but these 
may be excused by the circumstances under which his notes 
were taken, his lack of books of reference, and his imperfect 
acquaintance with the Science of Zoology. The foregoing 
Outlines of the Natural History of the Californias must there¬ 
fore be considered as possessing little pretension to the notice 
of the scientific student, but only as a part of the general 
plan of the author, in giving a brief account of the most 
striking objects which offered themselves directly to his 
observation, and as being intended merely for the eye of the 
general reader. Indeed it would be an useless as well as a 
presumptuous task, to attempt in a book of this kind an 
elaborate description of the natural productions of the Cali¬ 
fornias; and the more so in regard to one portion at least of 
those productions, since the announcement of the intended 
issue of a work which, for the elegance and costliness of its 
design, the skill and research displayed in its contents, and the 
well-earned celebrity of its principal author, will probably be 
unsurpassed by any similar undertaking. li The Viviparous 
Quadrupeds of North America,” now in course of publication, 
will undoubtedly add a crowning laurel to the already well- 
adorned brow of John J. Audubon. 
Fish. —There are perhaps no waters in the world so produc¬ 
tive of fish as those of the Californias, and of the regions still 
farther to the north. Immense numbers, and every variety of 
sea fish swarm in the Pacific coast, and the rivers are densely 
populated with several valuable species. 
