66 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—-ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 
SCOLOPAX WILSONII, Temm .—Common Snipe. 
Scolopax wilsonii, Aud. B. of A. Oct vol. V, p. 339, pi. 350 .—Nutt. Orn. vol. II p. 185. 
Scolopax galliiiago, Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VI, p. 18, pi. 47, fig. 1. 
Gallinago ivilsonii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 710. 
Arrives in California in September and remains until April, frequenting the marshes and 
moist grounds. When flushed it springs -with a feeble squeak, and flying in rapid irregular 
zig-zag lines, is soon.beyond the sportsman’s reach unless his eye be quick and his aim unerring. 
SCOLOPAX NOYEBORACENSIS, G-mel.—Red Breasted Snipe. 
Scolopax noveboracensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 658 .—Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 398 .—Aud. B of A. 
Oct. vol. VI, p. 10, pi. 351. 
I have occasionally met with these birds in flocks on marshy grounds and in the vicinity of 
ponds. Gathering together after alighting they are often shot in large numbers while engaged 
in search of worms, insects, and small snails, which abound in the localities they frequent. On 
one occasion I procured, in two hours, over sixty of these birds, besides a dozen duck and teal. 
RECURYIROSTRA OCCIDEXTALIS, Vigor .—Western Avocet. 
Eccurviroitra occidental^, Vigors, Zoolog. Journ. vol. IV, p. 356 .—Ib. Zool. of Beechey’s Voyage, p. 28, pi. 12. 
This species was observed in various parts of California, resorting to the shallow pools, in 
which it wades breast deep, finding on the soft muddy bottom a plentiful feast of insects and 
snails. Although half web-footed it does not swim unless wounded, when it takes immediately 
to deep" water, swimming with great celerity, soon advancing beyond range if not at once 
disabled by a second shot. Specimens were obtained from a small fresh water pond at Liver¬ 
more’s Ranche, on the salt marshes of Suisun valley, and on the borders of the reedy swamps 
covering a large portion of the lower part of the Sacramento valley. 
NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, Wilson .-Long-billed Curlew. 
Numenius lor.giroslris, Wils. Am. Orn. vol VIII, p. 23, pi. 64, fig. 4 .—Nutt. Orn. vol. II, p. 94 .—Aud. B. of A. Oct. 
vol. VI, p. 35, pi. 355. 
These birds arrive in flocks in California during September, resorting to the fields and open 
prairies, where they find an abundant supply of insects. Wild in their nature, always on the 
alert, and the prairie offering no undulations behind which the hunter can approach unseen, 
they are one of the most difficult game birds to secure. Their first whistle of alarm startles at 
once the whole flock, which, taking to wing, speeds away a long distance before again settling 
down. Abundant in fall and winter, they migrate to the northern regions in spring for the 
purposes of incubation. 
NUMENIUS BOREALIS, Lath.—Esquimaux Curlew. 
Numenius borealis, Lath. Birds, vol. IX, p. 180 .—Nutt. Orn vol. II, p. 101 .—Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 45, pi. 357 
A common game bird in the San Francisco market, though I did not myself procure it. 
BERNICLA CANADENSIS, Linn .—Canada Goose. 
Anser canadensis, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 178, pi. 376.— Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 468.—Nurr. Orn. 
vol. II, p. 349. 
Anas canadensis, Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VIII, p. 53, pi. 67, fig. 4. 
Common in California, but the least abundant of the four species found there. 
