269 
Dr. E. Coues.— From Arizona to the Pacific. 
distinguish P. alaudinus from the common Eastern P . savanna. 
In large series of the latter, shot about Washington, I have 
found fully as great differences as I have ever detected in com¬ 
paring the eastern with the western forms. 
The preceding birds are the characteristic species of the 
immediate vicinity, and include perhaps a majority of the land 
species. I cannot better give an idea of the number, variety, 
and interest of the Waders and Swimmers that were all crowded 
into the little bay of San Pedro, which is at the mouth of the 
San Gabriel river, than by epitomizing a day that I spent most 
delightfully sailing about with Dr. Cooper, whose hospitality I 
enjoyed during my stay, and whose conversation was to me an 
encyclopaedia of interesting biographies of the birds of the 
Pacific coast. 
It was difficult navigation along the intricate channel of the 
bay, even for our boat which did not draw a foot of water. 
Most extensive mud-bars and flats were laid bare by the 
receding tide, all crowded with Waders. Conspicuous among 
them the large Numenius longirostris stalked with dignity about, 
or flew by us in flocks uttering its loud cries. Associating with 
each other, and with the Curlews, Symphemia semipalmata, 
Gamhetta melanoleuca , and Limosa fedoa helped the Curlews to 
keep us from shooting any Geese by their incessant vociferations. 
Sprinkled among these larger Waders, immense flocks of the 
Pigmies, Actodromas minutilla and Ereunetespusillus, left myriads 
of little tracks in the soft mud for the next tide to efface. 
Standing in the shallow water, often hundreds of yards from 
visible land, the Herons crooked their necks and darted their 
bills at luckless fish— Garzetta candidissima, Herodias egretta, 
and, towering above them all, the great Ardea herodias, the 
latter tall enough to rear his whole neck above the tallest grass 
of the sedgy flats. More hidden among the grasses and reeds, 
numbers of Geese were feeding on succulent shoots; but they 
are so much annoyed that it was hard to kill them. No less 
than five species are to be seen— Anser hyperboreus, A. gamheli, 
Bernicla hutchinsi, B. canadensis, and B. nigricans ; and I 
believe I have named them somewhat in the order of their 
abundance, though perhaps Hutchins's Goose is commoner than 
