62 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 
Ranch. They incubate in the country, as their eggs were obtained in Sacramento valley during 
the month of May. 
RALLTJS VIRGINIANUS, Linn .—Virginia Rail. 
Rallus virginianus, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, p. 174, pi. 311 .—Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 109, pi. 62, fig. 1.— Nutt. 
Orn. vol. II, p. 205. 
I obtained this bird within a few miles of Sacramento City, but am unable to say whether it 
is a common species, so rarely does it show itself, even in localities where it may be in numbers. 
All the birds of this genus, being averse to take wing, run with remarkable swiftness, and are 
soon lost to the hunter, the compressibility of their bodies enabling them to slide with great 
ease through the dense masses of reeds which form their usual haunts. 
RALLUS ELEGANS, Aud .—Red-breasted Rail. 
Rallus elegans, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. V. p. 160, pi. 309.— DeKay, N. H. of N. Y. part I, p. 260, pi. 99, fig. 221. 
Abundant, having seen it on several occasions in different parts of California, and also exposed 
for sale in the San Francisco market. While hunting in the marshes of Suisun valley, I started 
a specimen of Rallus much smaller than the present one, but was unable to determine the species, 
aSj (being embarrassed at the time with a load of fifteen geese killed shortly before,) it alighted 
before I could shoot. 
GRUS CANADENSIS, T e m m i n c k .—Sand Hill Crane. 
Grus canadensis, Rich. & Sw, F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 373.— Nutt, Orn. vol. II, p. 38.— Baird, Gen. Rep. 655. 
Grus americana, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, pi. 314. 
These fine birds make their appearance in California in the fall in large flocks, coming from 
the north to spend the winter under a more genial clime. When migrating, they follow each 
other in a line, giving vent the while to a loud but not unmusical rattle. In the spring I have 
observed large flocks start from the ground, sail around in extensive circles, gradually rising to 
a great height, when the signal being sounded by one or more of the leaders they would at once 
fall into line and commence their migrations back to the northern regions for the purposes of 
incubation. While in California it frequents the plains and marshes, but being wild and very 
vigilant is difficult of approach. Among the many thousands I have seen both in spring and 
fall, I have never yet discovered the white whooping crane, ( Grus americana ) In the early 
settlement of California by Americans, when turkeys were yet scarce, I have known a sand hill 
crane to command from sixteen to twenty dollars in the Sun Francisco market for the purpose 
of replacing, on the Christmas dinner table, that almost indispensable feature of this particular 
festival. 
IBIS MEXICANUS, Gmel .—Mexican Ihis. 
Ibis chalcoptera, Temm, PI. Col. pi. 511. 
Tantalus mexicanus, Gmel, Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 652. 
Ibis ordii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 685. 
Abundant. Found in small flocks during the winter, which separate in pairs towards spring. 
It incubates in the country, selecting to that effect the most retired portions of the marshes in 
the large valleys. I have killed the young still retaining the down on the head but never 
discovered the nest. Its habits are very similar to those of the curlew, probing the ground and 
