Part 6

{From Northern Mexico north. {vallisneria Canvasback {Breeds on the higher lakes { {from Eastern Oregon to the { {Arctic. { { {From Central Mexico north. {americana Red-head {Breeds on the interior lakes { {from Eastern Oregon north. { { {American scaup {From Central California {neartica {Blue-bill {north. Breeds on the Aythya { {Black-jack {interior lakes from { {Washington north. { { {Lesser scaup {From northern Mexico north. {affinis {Blue-bill {Breeds on the interior lakes { {Black-jack {from Washington north to the { {Arctic. { { {From Central California north. {collaris {Ring-neck {More common on fresh waters. { {Black-jack {Breeds on the interior lakes { {from Oregon to the Arctic.

{americana American {Rare south of Oregon. Breeds { golden-eye {from northern Washington { {north. { Glaucionetta { {Very rare south of Puget {islandica Barrows {Sound. Found only along the golden-eye {coast. Breed on the {Aleutian Islands and Alaska {coast.

{From Central Mexican coast Charitonetta albeola {Buffle-head {north. Breeds along the {Butter-ball {coast from Washington north.

{From Central Mexico north. Erismatura rubida {Ruddy duck {Breeds on the mountain lakes {Wire-tail {throughout its range.

{From the Lower California {americana {Americas scoter {coast north. Breeds on the { {Black coot {Aleutian Islands and the { {Alaska coast. Oidemia { {deglandi {White-winged {From the Lower California {scoter {coast north. Breeds on the {White-winged {Aleutian Islands and the {coot {Alaska coast.

THE GEESE OF THE PACIFIC COAST

The hunting grounds of the Pacific Coast have a greater variety of geese than any other section of America. Here are to be found every species known to the Eastern states, except the barnacle brant of the Atlantic. But in return for the absence of this species of sea brant we have the black sea brant, the white-cheeked goose, the ross goose, the emperor goose (none of which are found east of the Rocky Mountains) and the hutchins goose, the lesser snow goose, the white-fronted goose and the little brown brant, which are only stragglers east of the Mississippi valley, and only sparingly seen that far east. Thus it will be seen that within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds there are four genera and nine species of the goose family. All of these are found in the northern parts of these hunting grounds, but only about one-half of them visit the southern parts. Increased areas of cultivation, the drainage of vast sections of marshy lands and the absence of laws for their protection have greatly reduced the once wonderful supply.

Acres of geese sounds fabulous, yet miles of geese is the only expression which conveys an adequate idea of the wonderful numbers in which these birds were seen on the Coast half a century ago. The great majority of the geese of the Coast at that time were of the white varieties, and it is a veritable fact that in California, and especially in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Los Angeles valleys, these geese congregated during the winter months in such numbers as to whiten the plains for miles. Many flocks of honkers were mixed with them, as well as some of the other darker varieties. These darker species of the family, however, were far more plentiful in the northern parts of the State than in the southern. That part of the Sacramento valley known as the Maine Prairies has always been a favorite feeding place for the Canada goose and its subspecies.

THE CANADA GOOSE, OR HONKER

(Branta canadensis)

The Canada goose, or honker as it is commonly called, was and is quite common on the Coast. This goose, the largest of the Americans, has a wide distribution, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to Central America. They breed as far south as southern ern Oregon, at any rate, and possibly on the higher mountain lakes as far south as Mexico, for they seem to make their appearance on the Coast shooting grounds of Mexico nearly, if not quite, as early as they do here.

The flesh of the Canada goose is the equal if not the superior of the tame goose. Its flight, except when migrating long distances, is generally low, and in such cases it can be called by the hunter to within shooting distance.

=Color=--Head and neck, black, with a white stripe running from the chin back of the eye to near the top of the head; upper parts, dark brownish gray; breast, dull, light gray, grading into white at the abdomen; tail and wings, black. Both sexes alike.

=Eggs and Nest=--The nest is generally built of sticks and grass, lined with feathers, and either in the marshes or on the banks of a stream, and rarely if ever contain more than six or seven, and often not more than four, eggs of a very light brownish white.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 19 inches; bill, about 1-3/4 inches.

THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE

(Branta canadensis occidentalis)

The white-cheeked goose, known also as Mexican goose, is found only on the Pacific Coast and never east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, or the Sierra Nevadas in California. In fact, they are generally confined to localities not far from the ocean. While both the honker and the Hutchins goose have a white cheek, the white of the honker meets under the chin or blends into a gray, but the white of the white-cheeked variety is separated either with a distinct black stripe under the chin or a mottled black and white one. Also the black of the neck of the white-cheeked goose and the brownish gray of the breast is very generally separated by a white collar, though sometimes this is so faint as to be almost indistinguishable.

The white-cheeked goose is rarely seen south of Monterey Bay, California.

=Color=--Same as the Canada goose, except that the white on the cheeks is either separated under the chin by a black stripe or by only a very few white feathers in the black. Between the neck and the dull gray of the breast is a narrow white stripe, or collar. This some times is very faint, and, in fact, some times, though very rarely, absent. This absence of the collar is quite likely caused by its inter-grading with the Hutchins goose.

=Nest and Eggs=--The same as the Canada goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, never more than 16 inches; bill, not more than 1-1/4 inches.

THE HUTCHINS GOOSE

(Branta canadensis hutchinsii)

We have on the Pacific Coast four varieties of the =Branta canadensis=, or that species to which belongs the Canada goose, all resembling each other closely except in size. Two of these species are generally considered honkers by most of our sportsmen, while others have two or three local names for them, among which are Mexican goose and Lower California goose. The fact is that while the Canada goose is quite common on the coasts of Mexico, neither the Hutchins goose nor the white-cheeked goose migrate that far south.

The Hutchins goose so closely resembles the Canada goose, or honker as it is popularly called, that it is principally distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in the call. The Hutchins goose ranges as far east as the Mississippi valley, and on the Pacific Coast south only to about Santa Barbara county, California. This is one of the two varieties that is given the local names of Mexican and Lower California goose.

=Color=--Same as the Canada goose, from which it is only distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in its call.

=Nest and Eggs=--Same as the Canada goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, not more than 17 inches; bill, 1-1/2 inches.

THE CACKLING GOOSE, OR BROWN BRANT

(Branta canadensis minima)

The cackling goose, known also as brown brant and gray brant, is the most common of the four varieties and much the smallest. (See illustration.) Its markings are the same as the Canada goose, but its under parts are somewhat darker. While in total length it is fully half that of the honker, in weight it is not more than one-third. The cackling geese are commonly found in flocks of the white geese, both in their feeding and their migrations. This species ranges east as far as the Mississippi valley and south on the Coast as far as the mouth of the Colorado river and to some extent into Lower California. It is more numerous than any other of the dark colored geese of the Pacific Coast.

=Color=--The same as the Canada goose, with the exception that it is a little darker on the under parts.

=Nest and Eggs=--The same as the Canada goose, but the eggs number as high as ten.

=Measurements=--Wing, 13 to 14-1/2 inches; bill, from one to one and one-eighth.

THE SNOW GOOSE, OR WHITE GOOSE

(Chen hyperborea)

The lesser snow geese, commonly called white geese, are the larger of the two species of white geese so numerous on the Coast. They not only feed, but migrate in great flocks, and these migrations often take place at night when their sharp cries will be heard high in the air. The lesser snow goose is found as far east as the Mississippi valley and south on the Pacific Coast to San Diego. Occasionally a few are seen at Ensenada and the valley of the Palms in Lower California. The meat is tough and poor in flavor and, therefore, they are hunted but little except by the market hunters, who, somehow, succeed in selling a good number of them to the uninitiated.

=Color=--Pure white, with black bill and legs; the primaries, or long feathers of the wings, are black.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are made close to the water's edge and contain about ten dirty white eggs.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 16 inches; bill, 2-1/4 inches.

THE ROSS GOOSE LITTLE WHITE GOOSE

(Chen rossii)

The Ross goose has been given the name of China goose by many who wanted some distinguishing nomenclature for them, when in fact the Ross goose is purely an American Pacific Coast bird. Like the snow goose it is pure white with black primary plumes. Young birds of both species are occasionally seen in the early part of the season more or less mottled on the breast with yellowish gray feathers. The Ross goose is only about half the size of the snow goose. Aside from this it can always be known by the warty appearance of the upper half of the bill. They are commonly seen, both in feeding and in their migrations, mixed in the flocks of the snow geese. Occasionally they are seen as far east as Utah and Montana, but only in small numbers. The Ross goose migrates as far south as Central Mexico, great numbers of them congregating on Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco.

=Color=--Same as the snow goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 14 inches; bill, 2-1/4, with warty excresences on the upper part.

WHITE FRONTED GOOSE

(Anser albifrons gambeli)

The white-fronted goose, or speckle-breast as it is commonly called, is quite common on the Coast south to Mexico, where great numbers congregate on Lake Chapala, Jalisco. This is another western species, though ranging to some extent as far east as the Mississippi valley and an occasional flock wanders even to the Atlantic coast. The breasts of the old birds are commonly profusely speckled with black feathers. The white-fronted goose is a little more exclusive in its habits than any of the others named, being generally found in flocks by themselves. As a table bird the meat is quite palatable, and large numbers are sold in the markets.

=Color=--Head, grayish brown, with a white spot at the junction of the bill, but this is absent from the young birds; neck, lighter, shading into white or dull white on the breast, mottled with black; back, ashy gray, edged with brown; shafts of the quills, white; bill and legs, light pink.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually well made and lined with feathers and down. The eggs number about seven or eight, and are of a pale greenish white.

=Measurements=--Wing, 16 inches; bill, 2 inches.

THE EMPEROR GOOSE

(Philacte canagica)

The Emperor goose is a north Pacific species, breeding principally on the islands of the Alaska coast. The great majority of these birds winter well to the north of us, though a number venture southward into California to Humboldt bay and even south of that. A small flock or two is seen almost every winter on the marshes near San Francisco. A close watch of the markets will reveal one or two offered for sale almost every winter.

=Color=--Head and back of neck, white; throat, brownish gray, shading into light gray on the breast and abdomen; back, a little darker; the feathers being gray, tipped with lighter gray, with a subterminal band of brownish gray; legs, flesh color.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are usually found on the small islands of the salt marshes, and contain eight to ten eggs of a dull white color.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 15-1/2 inches; bill, 1-1/2 inches.

THE BLACK SEA BRANT

(Branta nigricans)

The black sea brant is another purely Pacific Coast species, found nowhere else except as a straggler. They resemble the barnacle brant of the Atlantic (=Branta barnicla=) except in the shape of the head and bill. A differing characteristic, however, is that the white speckling on the sides of the neck of the barnacle brant extends all around the front of the neck in the case of the black sea brant. As their name implies, these are purely seabirds, rarely flying over the land even, and only found in such bays as produce the eel grass on which they feed almost exclusively. I only know of the following places within the Pacific Coast shooting grounds where the black sea brant is found. These are: Puget sound, Washington; Coos bay, Oregon; Humboldt, Tomales, Moro and San Diego bays, California, and Magdalena bay, Lower California. In most of these places they ate plentiful during the winter season. Of all birds that fall to the aim of the sportsman, the black sea brant is the most difficult to get within range of. This is only accomplished by great caution and a good deal of strategy, but when they are brought to bag the reward is a full compensation, for of all the waterfowl their flesh is the most delicious. The sea brant is rarely found away from the haunts mentioned, yet the bird from which the accompanying illustration was made was killed from a small flock that had strayed into the lower end of San Francisco bay, near Redwood City, and was mounted by that accomplished sportsman and taxidermist, Chase Littlejohn, of that place.

=Color=--General color, black; throat, with a white or speckled ring all around the neck, except a small portion of the back; flanks, mottled white and black; under tail feathers, white.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is only a depression on the ground, but nicely lined with down. The eggs, numbering six to eight, are of a dull white.

=Measurements=--Wing, 13 inches; bill, 1-1/2 inches.

THE SWANS

(Olor columbianus) and (Olor buccinator)

(Subfamily, CYGNINAE)

Both the whistling swan (=Olor columbianus=) and the trumpeter swan (=Olor buccinator=) were once very plentiful on the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, as far south as central California, and especially so on the Columbia river and the lakes of Oregon and Washington. A few were met with also as far south as San Diego county, California.

I shall never forget the first two swans I ever killed and my experience with them. It was the first winter after I came to California and I was living in Los Angeles, then a little Mexican village, and three of us were doing our own housekeeping. Whatever the reason--most likely from some hallucination of boyhood--I entertained the belief that swans must be exceedingly fine eating. As I prided myself then, just after crossing the plains, upon being a good cook, great preparations were made for an extra fine feast on what I fancied would be a delicious bird. We had a good stove and the first of the two swans was carefully "stuffed" with the choicest dressing, consisting of the combined suggestions of the three of us. It was placed in the oven, the fire carefully tended and the magnificent bird repeatedly "basted." When it was ready and placed on the table it fell to my lot to do the carving. Having drawn my knife across the hunger-producing carcass without making any perceptible impression, I decided that it must be the fault of a dull knife. Among our table furnishings we had no sharpening steel, a scythe stone doing service in its stead. I hunted this up and began on the knife with the "mower's challenge" stroke and soon had an edge that would have cut through anything less than an eighty-pound rail. With no little effort I amputated the legs and the wings, and cutting a generous piece from one side of the breast passed it to one of my companions, who at once began on it with his knife. A few attempts to sever it and he reached for the scythe stone. Then when he began chewing on the segregated piece he declared that it was not cooked enough. A dispute followed as to whether it is over-cooking or under-cooking that makes a bird tough. With this momentous question still unsettled we decided that some of the many ingredients that we had put into the "stuffing" must have given the meat its sole-leather consistency. We had a couple of hounds, whose teeth had been well tested in many a coyote kill, and we passed this first swan up to them.

The next day the other bird was worked into a fine stew and well cooked. When served the stew was fine. The dumplings were light and fairly melted in our mouths; the red peppers were hot; the aroma of onions was just of that degree to suggest the ambrosia of the gods; but the swan! Well, the hounds ate it through the compulsion of hunger.

A half-grown swan, however, is very good eating.

There is very little difference in the two varieties. The whistling swan being more of a northern bird, rarely migrating as far south as central California. About the only noticeable difference is that the whistling swan has a small yellow spot at the V-shaped point of the bill where it meets the eye.

THE WADERS AND SHORE BIRDS

The Pacific Coast is especially rich in waders and shore birds, there being upwards of forty species that are more or less common, with some ten or more that are occasional visitors. Of these few can be considered game birds, while others are so small that they are rarely shot by our sportsmen. Many of both the waders and the shore birds are constant residents. Others come from still farther south for breeding purposes, while still others breed north of us and migrate throughout the territorial scope of these articles to spend their winters.

The shore birds, while very common, are hunted but little by the sportsmen of this region, and many of the smaller species that are considered quite a delicacy by our eastern brethren are passed by entirely by our lovers of the gun. The reasons for this will be obvious to all who have read the preceding pages and noted the abundance and great variety of larger and better game. By better game I mean birds that furnish better sport by requiring more skill in approaching them and better marksmanship in bringing them to bag. The little mountain plover, of the southern part of the Coast, while not surpassed even by the jack snipe as a table delicacy, are hunted but little, even where they are very abundant, because there is little sport to be had in shooting them. And the same is true, in a great measure, of several other species. Sportsmen, therefore, are little acquainted with these birds either as to their names, gastronomic merits or means of identification.

THE HERONS and IBISES

(Order, HERODIONES)

While none of the order =Herodiones=, which includes the storks, herons, ibises and bitterns, can be considered game birds, they are so common about our waters, and some of them add such a charm to the scene by their beautiful plumage and graceful movement, that mention of some of them here will not be out of place.

The great blue heron (=Ardea herodias=) is the most common of these waders. With his long, gracefully curved neck and slender legs he wades with stately mien along the shallow waters of the lakes, marshes and streams, both summer and winter, for he is to the manner born and has no desire to seek other lands or other climes. The herons are said to be destructive to fish. This can be to a limited extent only, for they subsist very largely on the enemies of the fish, destroying hundreds of snakes, water lizards and other fish destroyers.

The snowy heron, or white crane as it is commonly called (=Ardea candidissima=), is another handsome wader that lends a charm to the lakes, ponds and streams from Oregon south through Mexico. Built on the same graceful lines as its blue relative, and with a plumage as white as the purest snow, it never fails to attract attention.

Three representatives of the family =Ibididæ= are found here and present a pleasing and interesting group.

The white-faced glossy ibis (=Plegadis guarauna=) ranges over the larger portion of the Coast, but from Lower California north only for breeding purposes. Its long curved bill, slim, gracefully bent neck, shapely body, tall legs and irridescent reflections of its plumage in the sunlight, place it among the most attractive of North American birds. Unlike the herons they are gregarious and are, therefore, seen in flocks of varying size. The glossy ibis is often called bronze curlew, but this is a bad misnomer, as they are in no way related to the curlew.

Another of the family is the white ibis (=Guara alba=). These are quite common in Lower California and Mexico. They rarely migrate into California, though they venture much to the north of us in a northeastern direction, reaching the shores of the Great Salt Lake, during the breeding season. The scarlet ibis (=Guara rubra=), the other member of the family, is confined to Mexico, so far as these articles are concerned.