distance only, surrounding San Gabriel and San Bernardino, would no doubt yield many birds and other animals not observed along the route traversed.

Cajon Pass.-The pass is entered quite abruptly from the plains by a picturesque cañon, usually narrow and rocky, through which flows a dashing mountain stream, clear and cold, but not observed to contain fish. Along its banks grow Live Oaks, Buttonwoods (Platanus Mexicanus), and various Willows, while a few Pines (Pinus Sabiniana?), Firs (Abies Douglassii) and Nut Pines (P. monophyllus) straggle down from the neighboring mountains. The slopes of the nearest mountains are, however, covered chiefly with low shrubs. Among these the loud ringing trill of the Wren Titmouse (Chamœa fasciata) was the chief bird-music at this season. Other birds observed were a flock of Pigeons (Columba fasciata?), Lawrence's Goldfinch (Chrysomitris Lawrencii), and the Western Bluebird (Sialia Mexicana), none of which frequent the bare plains below. Just below the summit, where we camped December 7th, I shot the first seen of the Shining Flycatcher (Phainopepla nitens), a species rare west of these mountains, and peculiar enough to attract attention from its habit of flying upward from a bush to a great height, in a zigzag manner, in pursuit of insects, somewhat like Pewees, which it much resembles otherwise. I have heard of the Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) as occurring in this spot. The Pass being only about 4000 feet above the sea, and the mountains around it low and nearly treeless, does not offer so good a field for a collector as would be the San Bernardino range, which rises over 8600 feet forty miles south-east of here, and is covered high up with heavy coniferous and oak timber. The light coating of snow which greeted our eyes on the summit the morning of December 8th, is an index of the greatest cold ever experienced here, though the summits of the highest mountains in sight are often white in patches the entire summer. As we are now about to enter on a new natural region,

that of the interior deserts, I may as well digress a little from the line of travel to mention some other land animals I have observed west of this range, and north of latitude 34° 30', a region which I have called the "Southern coastslope" of California, extending north-east and south-west for about one hundred and forty miles, and fifty in breadth. Besides the mammalia mentioned, the Coast Fox (Vulpes littoralis), if really distinct from the Gray, does not occur northward. Deer (Cervus Columbianus and C. Mexicanus?) are not uncommon, and some small feline animals (Felis eyra?) with long tails, are said to occur. The Jaguar (F. onca) has been reported, but all other mammals except Skunks (Mephitis occidentalis and M. bicolor) are rare.

The Couguar (Felis concolor), Grizzly Bear (Ursus horibilis), Raccoon (Procyon Hernandezii), Badger (Taxidea Americana), Wild Cat (Lynx rufus), Gray Squirrel (Sciurus leporinus), Antelope (Antilocapra Americana) and Mountain Sheep (Ovis montana) occur more or less abundantly in various stations on the mountains or plains, but most of them are limited to particular spots, and are more abundant in other parts of the State.

The most peculiar birds not yet mentioned are the Contraband Hawk (Buteo zonocercus), which I found but once near San Diego, in February; the Rock Swift (Panyptila melanoleuca), a few of which breed in some cliffs near the same place; the Texan Nighthawk (Chordeiles Texensis), a summer visitor, the Little Vireo ( Vireo pusillus) and Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus), also migratory; the Long-tailed Mocking-bird (Mimus caudatus) and Long-billed Sparrow (Ammodromus rostratus), the latter confined to the seashore. These, as well as the White-bellied Ank (Brachyramphus hypoleucus), have not been found farther north, though the land species mostly occur farther east. Altogether I have noticed forty-eight species of mammals, and two hundred and fortyeight of birds, in this region. Of the birds thirty-two are summer visitors, thirty-two winter, and the rest resident.

Of reptiles I found twenty-eight species and six of batrachians, a few of the former are not known northward, viz., Hallowell's Rattlesnake (Crotalus Hallowelli nom. prov.), the Coppery Whipsnake (Drymobius testaceus), and Couch's Gartersnake (Eutainia Couchii). Two species of Gerrhonotus (G. Webbii and G. olivaceus) are also reported as only from these mountains, and I found two other undetermined lizards on the seacoast and Claueute Island. fishes are few in the fresh water, and as yet undetermined.

The

On my return to the coast, just six months later, I found the summer fauna of this region in full development. The Rock Swifts flew high over the mountains with harsh croaking notes; the Vireos and Orioles sung sweetly in the high trees; the Mocking Bird, and many others, enlivened the shrubbery or chaparal, and at evening the Nighthawks flew swiftly about our camps. Humming Birds of various species had nests on the trees, of which I unfortunately upset one and broke the eggs before I saw it. Brilliant flowers abounded, and though the dry season was commencing in the plains, the mountains were so inviting that I much regretted my inability to spend a month or two there before going to the military post at San Diego.

The Desert. The whole country between the mountains. and the Colorado Valley may be called desert, although only that part near the mouth of the river is called so on the maps, being nearly level and almost as barren of vegetation as the sea-beach. The route to Fort Mojave passes over an undulating country, destitute of trees except on the summit of the San Francisco Mountains, where it rises over 5000 feet above the sea. The lower tracts consist of salt or alkaline flats, sand-hills or bare rocks, while the higher support only a scanty and useless vegetation. Junipers (J. occidentalis) and Nut-pines cover a few of the highest points, while a little lower the Yucca tree (Y. baccata) forms extensive groves. Many species of Cactaceae, and other desert plants, form the most characteristic vegetation elsewhere.

In such a region the higher animals cannot be expected to abound, and those found are chiefly stragglers from more favored tracts, but still there are some of much interest. Descending the eastern slope we find Harris's Squirrel (Spermophilus Harrisii) scarce at this cold season, but common on our return in June. This little animal has much the appearance and habits of Tamias, but is nearly white. I saw also tracks of the Sage Fowl (Centrocercus urophasianus) corresponding in color with the granite rocks among which it lives, and have seen a specimen killed near here.

The only peculiar bird known is Leconte's Mock-thrush (Harporhynchus Lecontei), which is also of a pale grayish brown, like a faded specimen of the coast species (H. redivivus), but is admirably colored for concealment among the thorny bushes growing on the sand-hills it inhabits. Both of these animals having dark colored representatives in less barren regions, offer excellent instances of the influence of "natural selection," but have some peculiarities not to be explained by the influence of the climate and country they inhabit.

The road for nearly one hundred miles eastward follows the Mojave River, which, being permanent for half that distance, and supplying moisture to a narrow tract of bottomland, forms a sort of oasis in the desert, cultivable, and with its upper parts lined with trees and shrubs. Some of the common Californian birds were rather frequent here, but I found none of interest at that season. On returning in June I found here the Purple-throat Humming Bird, the Little Vireo, and various other summer species. Fresh water shells of the genera Lymnea, Physa and Planorbis occurred, also two species of Succinea, in the more elevated cool parts of the valley.

It is in the class of reptiles, and especially lizards, that the fauna of the desert excels. Although none were visible in December, and I had not time to collect many on my return in June, I have ascertained that seventeen species have

been obtained chiefly in this region by various naturalists, principally those of the Mexican Boundary and Pacific Railroad Surveys. One which they seem to have overlooked, although the most remarkable, perhaps, because inhabiting such a desert region, I described, after my return, as Agassiz's Land-tortoise (Xerobates Agassizii). In size it is about equal to the species of the Gulf Coast, but differs in color and other particulars. The Indians hunt for them on the mountains among cacti and other fleshy-leaved plants, on which they probably feed, rarely or never descending to the valleys. A Water-turtle (Actinemys marmorata) also lives in the Mojave River. One small Cyprinoid fish (Algansea formosa) has been found by Dr. Heermann in this

stream.

Towards the sink, or "Soda Lake," which rarely contains water, the sand becomes very dry and almost bare of vegetation. A few trees (Chilopsis linearis) of small size grow there, and among them I saw a flock of the Arctic Bluebird (Sialia arctica). The only other bird of interest seen east of this was the pretty Black-throated Finch (Poospiza bilineata), which is pretty common in the shrubby tracts.

HINTS ON TAXIDERMY.

BY C. A. WALKER.

[Continued from page 146.]

The method of collecting, preserving, and mounting birds. The first specimen procured, however imperfect, should always be preserved until a better one can be obtained. As soon as a bird has been killed, the following directions should be carefully observed. Fill the mouth, throat, nostrils and vent with cotton; also any shot holes which may discovered. If there is any fresh blood upon the feathers,

be