very industrious, preferring to catch insects in every way except by pecking decayed wood, and living largely on fruits. It is common in all except the southern counties, especially in coniferous forests.

The "Flickers," or "Highholes" (18. Colaptes Mexicanus, and 19. C. chrysoides) are peculiar woodpeckers, with curved bills, of rather large size, the first with the quills and tail-feathers red beneath, the latter having them yellow. Their beautiful plumage is otherwise very similar, but too varied to describe here, and nearly resembles that of the eastern species (C. auratus) generally well known. They live in great part on berries, and on ants, which they search for on the ground, thus showing some resemblance to the ground cuckoo. Being large and common, they are often killed and eaten, though inferior for the table. The second species is found only in the southeast counties.

ORDER RAPTORES-BIRDS OF PREY.

These are analogous to the Carnivorous Mammals, and like them give us three groups of species, which may be called diurnal, nocturnal, and carrion-eaters, although these are not the only characteristics distinguishing them, nor strictly natural, any more than such divisions of carnivora are. The diurnal birds of prey, on account of their ferocity and noble appearance, which only hides a tyrannical character, are the kings of birds in the same sense as the lion is of beasts, but as much below the parrot in intellect as the lion is below the monkey.

The White-headed Eagle (20. Haliætus leucocephalus) usually adopted as the emblem of the United States, is an abundant species wherever it has not been exterminated by the murderous gun. The Spanish settlers encouraged them on account of their destruction of ground squirrels, and they seem rarely to have violated the trust thus shown them by killing domestic animals, although they undoubtedly will sometimes destroy a young ox, weakly lamb, or fowl. Partly to prevent this, partly for the empty honor of "killing an eagle," the American settlers are destroying them so fast that soon they will be scarce enough to satisfy the most destructive mind.

The American Golden Eagle (21. Aquila Canadensis) is much less numerous, but occasionally seen along the coast, preferring the lofty mountains. It is large, yellowish-brown, and its legs are booted with feathers down to the toes.

The Fish-Hawk (22. Pandion Carolinensis) is allied to the eagles, but lives entirely on fish, which it catches by diving, and is found near all the clear waters of the State, both fresh and salt.

Two other large eagle-like birds, with some resemblance to vultures,

are found, but rarely, in the southeast part of the State, and have been described by various authors under the following names: (23. Craxirex unicinctus, 24. Polyborus tharus.)

The

The Buzzard-Hawks are next in size and more numerous. "California Squirrel-hawk" (25. Archibuteo ferrugineus) is the most common, being found all the year on the borders of the plains inhabited by the squirrels, of which they destroy great numbers, but, like their relatives, unfortunately do not distinguish between wild and tame birds, so that they often feel the vengeance of the farmer. Their large size and feathered legs distinguish this species. Another smaller one (26. A. lagopus) comes from the north in winter, and is much more marked with white. A variety or species entirely black is also sometimes found, (A. Sancti Johannis, named from resemblance to the black eagle of St. John, represented in old pictures.)

Another group, often called Chicken-Hawks and Buzzards, have the legs bare, but otherwise resemble the preceding. There are so many forms differing but little except in color, that naturalists are puzzled whether to consider them of two or more species. Eight have been described as found in this State, which are of two groups as to size, and may be considered analogous to the varieties of color found among our wolves and foxes. Besides this, the young of the first year are very similar in all. The larger group is about half the size of the Eagles, comprising Buteo borealis, and varieties (?); 27. B. montanus; 28. B. calurus; 28. B. Cooperi; B. Harlani; the last nearly all black. The other comprises Buteo Swainsoni, and varieties (?); 30. B. insignatus; B. Bairdii; B. oxypterus; 32. B. zonocercus; the last again black, but perhaps a good species. (Those not numbered have not been detected in California.) The three first of the large group have red tails when mature, while the smaller ones all have the tails banded, as do the young of the others. All these are heavy, slow-flying hawks, feeding usually on small birds, mice, etc., but sometimes catching domestic poultry, and usually shot on suspicion by farmers, although it might be better to merely use very fine shot, which would sting them and drive them to their wild prey without killing them.

The Marsh-Hawk (33. Circus Hudsonius) is a very common, large, and well known kind, found about every level plain and marsh, where they kill mice and small birds, rarely attacking poultry, and soon learning to let it alone. The white rump is a conspicuous mark of the species, though the younger birds are elsewhere brown, and the old ones ash-color above. It is found throughout North America.

The White-tailed Hawk (34. Elanus lucurus) is about half the size

of the last; a beautiful gray and white bird, with black shoulders. Its habits are similar, and it is found, rather rarely, near this coast, as well as near the Gulf of Mexico.

A more bold and destructive group, although smaller than most of the preceding, may be distinguished as Hawks proper. There are three species, scarcely differing except in size, especially in their young plumage, in which most of them are killed. They are more light and slender in form, with longer limbs, but weaker claws and bills, yet they do not fear to attack birds larger than themselves, and are among the kinds most destructive to poultry, their swiftness enabling them to catch it unawares. The largest is about the weight of a hen-the smallest that of a jay. (35. Accipiter Cooperii; 36. A. Mexicanus; 37. A. fuscus.)

The Goshawk (38. Astur atricapillus) is similar in form, but larger and scarcely ever seen far from the thick forests where they hunt ducks, rabbits, and other animals of similar size. This species is found only in Northern America.

The Falcons proper are by many considered typical of the birds of prey, though smaller than the eagles, etc., but they show much resemblance to the owls, though diurnal, and are analogous to the foxes. We have four species.

The Western Duck-Hawk (39. Falco nigriceps) frequents the seashore chiefly, and, though only a quarter the size of an eagle, boldly seizes ducks and other birds as large as itself. Being swift and strong, it is one of the most destructive species, and often carries off a fowl to its inaccessible nest among the cliffs before the farmer knows it has been near.

The Hare-Hawk (40. Falco polyagrus) holds a similar position inland, and is, of course, more destructive to fowls, but its wariness protects it much more than the sluggish and larger buzzards.

The Pigeon-Hawk (41. Falco columbarius) is of the size of a pigeon, and proportionately destructive. It is also common in the East.

The Sparrow Hawk (42. Falco sparverius), also numerous throughout America, is of the size of a Jay, beautifully colored, and can be considered only as a benefactor to the farmer, as it lives on mice and small birds, never attacking chickens unless they are very young.

The nocturnal species are all called Owls, although some are nearly as much like hawks. If the Lion family is the highest of Carnivora, as some contend, so are the owls among birds; for they are strictly analogous, and both have members nearly or quite diurnal in habits.

The Great Horned Owl (43. Bubo Virginianus) is common throughout North America, and of the size of our largest Hawks. It lives

chiefly in forests or caves, and preys only at night, occasionally taking a chicken off the roost if exposed, and is said even to kill turkeys. Like other owls, however, they kill more rats and mice than anything else, because those animals also move about at night and are more easily found than the roosting birds. There are three smaller species found here which have little tufts of long feathers on the head called "horns" or "ears," though apparently designed only to make them look like cats.

The Short-eared Marsh Owl (44. Brachyotus Cassinii) visits us only in the cold months, when large numbers of them are sometimes seen in the meadows, hiding in long herbage, and in cloudy weather hunting mice, etc., by day. They are half the size of the last, pale in color, and do little or no damage.

The Long-eared Owl (Otus Wilsonianus) is much smaller, gray, and lives permanently in all parts of this State in hollow trees. They occasionally visit the farm-yard at night, but do not molest full-grown poultry.

The Mottled Owl (Scops asio) is common like the last in all of North America, and lives in similar localities. Being smaller than a pigeon they do little or no harm-in fact, sometimes take up a residence in the dove-cot without apparently killing any of the old birds, though a great terror to them and all smaller kinds.

Of the Smooth-headed Owls, the Barn Owl (47. Strix pratincola) is about equal in size to the short-eared. It is found in nearly all the United States, and closely resembles the Barn Owls of Europe and Australia. Though fond of barns, ravines and caverns, they often content themselves with the shelter of thick bushes, and ought to be protected, as they are found by close observation to live almost entirely on rats and mice. They are yellowish above, pure white beneath.

The Great Gray Owl (Syrnium cinereum) is as large as the Great Horned Owl, or larger, and found only in dense forests throughout the more northern and subalpine parts of America.

The Western Barred Owl (Syrnium occidentale) has been found so far only at Fort Tejon. It is marked by bars or bands of color, passing entirely round the body like the Eastern species.

Two little species allied to these are rare in this State. They are smaller than Pigeons, and frequent the forests, doing no harm. (50. Nyctale Acadica, and 51. N. albifrons.)

The Burrowing Owl (52. Athene cunicularia) is numerous and well known, being almost diurnal in habits, and living in burrows made by the ground squirrels, though sometimes burrowing for itself. It is of

the size of a pigeon, and destroys many mice and insects. Although found in western South America, it differs from the species found east of the Rocky Mountains, (A. hypogœa.)

The Gnome Owl (53. Glaucidium gnoma) is also partly diurnal, only about six and a half inches long, its legs densely feathered, and lives chiefly on insects. It inhabits only the western slope of North America.

Whitney's Owl (Micrathene Whitneyi) is still smaller, its legs nearly bare, and has been found so far only in the Colorado valley. Its habits, as far as known, are like those of the last.

The Vultures, although classed with the birds of prey, are rather to be called scavengers, as few species attack any living animals unless. diseased or helpless. They have not the talons of the other species with which to seize prey, and their beaks are not so strong and sharp. They are thus analogous to coyotes or jackals.

The California Vulture (55. Cathartes Californianus) is remarkable as the largest land bird that flies north of the Andes, where the much larger Condor is met with. It is, however, scarcely heavier than a large turkey, and not so wide in spread of wings as our Albatross. This fine bird is found throughout the western slope of North America, and abounds where herds of large animals are to be seen, soaring generally at such a height as to be almost imperceptible, until it perceives a dead or dying animal, even at a distance of many miles, when it sweeps rapidly down to it, and in some districts a dozen vultures gather to the feast in a few minutes, from the distant sky, where none were visible to human vision before. As a useful bird, this and the next should be protected by law from reckless slaughter. This species may be distinguished at a great height by its wings having a white patch underneath.

The Turkey Vulture, also called Buzzard, (56. Cathartes aura), is only about half the size of the other, and is named from its bare head and neck being red, like those of a turkey. It is more common and found in nearly all the United States.

ORDER INSESSORES-PERCHERS.

This division of birds includes most of the smaller land species, and may be conveniently divided into the omnivorous, insectivorous, and granivorous groups, corresponding to the Cheiroptera, Insectivora, and Rodentia of mammals. Although this arrangement is not the most scientific, it is the most intelligible, and as nearly correct as is necessary for our purpose.