4 New Call Building Telephone Sutter 2223 JOHN F. LEINEN SANITATION CO 0 Sanitary Engineers & Chemists San Francisco. Cal. John F. Leinen, President and General Mgr» FORMERLY WITH THE United States Public Health. Service and » • California State Board of Health United States of America DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES EXPLOSIVES LICENSE License N9 1127962 Not transferable. Void if licensee should leave employ of company or corporation named in this license. This license does not take the place of any license or permit required by Federal, State, municipal, or local laws or ordinances. ( 1—8668 Public — No. 68 — 65th Congress. IT. K. 3932. An act to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, storage, use, and possession in time of war of explosives, pro- viding regulations for the safe manufacture, distribulion, storage, use, and possession of the same, and for other purposes. Approved October 6, 1917. RIGHTS CONFERRED ON LICENSEE OF VARIOUS LICENSES. Sec. 9. That from and after forty days after the passage and approval of this act every person authorized to sell, issue, or dispose of explosives shall keep a complete itemized and accurate record, showing each person to whom explosives are sold, given, bartered, or to whom or how othenvise disposed of, and the quantity and kind of explosives, and the date of each such sale, gift, barter, or other disposition, and this record shall be sworn to and furnished to the Director of the Bureau of Mine^, or his authorized representatives, whenever requested. Sec. 10. That the Director of the Bureau of Mines is hereby authorized to issue licensas as follows : (a) Manufacturer's license, authorizing the manufacture, possession, and sale of explo- sives and ingredients. (b) Vendor’s license, authorizing the purchase, possession, and sale of explosives or in- gredients. — 4<^)-JEtirchaser’s license,. aiitJbx>rizing tlieL purchase and possession of explosives and ingivdients. (d) Foreman's license, authorizing the purchase and possession of explosives and ingre- dients, and the sale and issuance of explosives and ingredients to worlonen under the proviso to section five above. (e) Exporter’s license, authorizing the licensee to export explosives, but no such license shall authorize exportation in violation of any proclamation of the President issued under any act of Congress. (f) Importer’s license, authorizing the licensee to import explosives. (g) Analyst’s, educator’s, inventor’s, and investigator’s licenses authorizing the purchase, manufacture, possession, testing, and disposal of eScplosives and ingredients. Section 14 of the act provides: ^^That it shall be imlawful for any person to represent himself as having a license issued under this act, when he has not such a license, or as having a license different in form or in conditions from the one wliichTie in fact has, or without proper authority make, cause to bo made, issue or exliibit anytiiing purporting or pretending to bo such license, or intended to mislead any person into believing it is such a license, or to refuse to exhibit his license to any peace officer. Federal or State, or representative of the Bureau of Mines.” Note. — Any License made hi error shall be marked ‘‘Void” and retunied to the office of the Director of the Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. G. The stub appertaining thereto shall likewise be marked “Void." o— «a«8 IF NOT DELIVERED IN FIVE DAYS RETURN TO BUm RICE COMPANY y GLENN, GLENN CO., CAL. ■f ¥ w Directiona for using Duck Bom'bs Select the rice field having the largest number of ducks or other birds. Have as many assistants as possible around the edge or exterior boundaries of the field, each armed with two or more of the bombs. Arrange with your assistants that as soon as' one bomb is fired on one edge of the field, to immediately have the other shot into the field' of birds. Set off the first bomb on the center of the exterior boundary’;' followed immediate- ly with one on the ppposite exterior boundary of the field. This will immediately cause much confusion among the birds. ’^Thile they are confused and in the air, shoot other bombs in their direction, continuing to do so as long as possible. A few birds may return later. These should be bombed out as soon as possible. Watch the field in the morning and in the evening very closely. If the birds should return in the night bomb them out before the break of day in the morning. If they return in the evening, bomb them out after dark, just after they have become settled. Two ot three days use in this maBmter will effectively rid your. fields of these birds. This method is an effective on grain as it is on rice fields. TrttP MII Original copied by Smithsonian Archives ^ - A.^■■ V wm Tk. < towwiwija UNION ir » I * . .S’ '• « • '-T A- • I. • .^ AM «C^OOMB CARLTON. PRBlWtMT if i?«EOR«« W. E. ATKINS. ril.«T VICB.PR»ID«NT 4 gwHol t^ft S ^ eussopsnvioc Ford UM, Diy Utter MMht W i fi i • TiyttUtef '< % ‘mm M tftM# (MM ■Mfi tflir the oheck (i • :m ^ & A _ . ^ _ I "'• :i . f -. ,.+v-v:hr^. ■• ^ 4 ® 1 • ‘^ . - k . 1 ■*' ‘*-Tx VI - a .'^ 'Iv'I \jr' V*** .,....•, «N. j u « ► k •-.►■».• “'.r -• *-• ■ '•■ t RECEIVED ■ — ^ '• ”■ NUMBiR-."-'7;.V ■ . ^ ’'' I ’ \ ' " ' t. --I • -■ : V. >- : - ..'ArV ■■ af}y Y M K.UV<... V * - ' ", iH*"'. ^^'•'r ,*.--■ '•' ' 'f*- ^ * . r *■• - ' ' ^' * ■ -iJ ^ A* N/t " f. . . 5 v >. V. DATF n ^ ^ ^ — m r; 1/ >-y ^ dii •:\r’ i >L' t . ■ >»•/" • '• * i •'Vif’F ^*.t- . '■■•.•* r x' ,■?.• . . s« •' /: .g^’. • --giAw^wuti ^y . ^ .4- ? j. ^ > V • • ' :_* 3 -* -V ' * *. V .•- , . 'wr" ..i* ;'• . ', .. .•: ; r* - -A..' % , • .J'.-. - .; .■ • _j — h-r^ I .Eaam.^1 if ' • I •• '_ ^ S^’ i'«i Aa%^ f r- ’ - • V 'i. "" • .* * 0 <f r ^ f •••^ ■•» - t>* iv A • •'• ': ‘ .T'r ' 1 ' !.-*• V.- A » ' 4 , . ► . i^'j - ' ' '’* X ' > ’ ^ "1 « ■ ^ . \* y ifc A s ^ >v» • ,i •-■» .»-'■•* -'Si'-* - iw “ '-*'* ^- *r.“ •*»*:» . 'rk'* 4 *'-^r -«' •■■_^L V!- _ W. -‘ -.? -i, ^ '>-y - I I UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, O. C. Liv9oai^ OzXiftaniiiu ^ tJaftor rof^cmd vaek in. ^b& n _ W^^1l to 8 WJOI>t 4S 0£ TXOf^ Si .- r’ r A t fei UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO August 26^ 1918. Prof. Alox V/etmoro, 1011 Poru]n Building, Sacramento, California# Dear Wetiaore; y Yoxlt report on experiments with quail and upon other points has "been received# Your z'esults corrohorate those obtained by the Public Health Service and with other information we have had 0 relating to the resistance of gallinaceous birds to strychnine poisoning would seem to mahe it almost certain that no great de- struction of (juail has resulted from the Biological Survey poisoning operations. I am glad to learn that you will be able to visit 77asliington for I think the problem there is a very interesting one, vmich it should be possible to solve. On account of the fact that you will be away from Hayv;ard perhaps not to return there this season, the matter of the double” cliarge on tlie express packages will be liandled from here. A claim will be made to tlie company for the amount paicL by you and in due time you should receive a check. This matter probably will be settled soon because the charges have not yet actually been paid here. You should not, therefore, put in a claim for this amount in your expense account. would Hll^D jjrptoct/^l^e ^dw 3 u: .fo fjbuipretiio.; ) .Tli# i^fth hi? Jjrp,t^«^p n ri<jo <«^t ij^pt iUii"#oaro ^■biA. Nioot $nd E Bd|tor l^ritpr • wasl«»i‘0 Seadlns the»^w|ltp£i fthia, morniriy In^ jElevsLStation ,^'ucka,'./ ^t 49 yti fac)t;:iy^ tfito llorT. the 4leV0 r;th|6%' .thp., Hdpfm^ ' 55 K*y^:r I JmppM. ft]>d’ fc*/'iUi|tPKii^Mia '-ibO«nF« w Form E 1 To Manager Telegraph Companys This message should be sent “Paid Gov't^^ Rate, and forwarded with your monthly re- port as voucher for your crediti U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SttbVOUCHER N (X OFFICIAL TELEGRAM Charge Bureau of Appropriation U. S. Department of Agricuiture, ^ V C^' , {Always insert name of Bureau chargeable with this expense.) Send the following official message subject to the instructions on' back hereof and the agreement with the Postmaster General, (hjd Time Filed: Check: G. E,: Amount Paid: $0 Place 8—1 m-y INSTRUOTSONS The telegraph must be used sparingly. In a message from one official or employee to another official or employee titles should not he used, and in a great many cases the names of the parties in both address and signature may be limited to single words. Messages sent from or to the Department at Washington should not be paid for by the persons sending or receiving the same, except in cases where payment is denianded as a condition to the transmission or deliveiy of the messages, and the agent, operator, or messenger should be directed to have the same charged in the company’s monthly bill at Washington. ^ The rates for the transmission of official messages (^except those for tlje Weather Bureau) over the prmcipal telegraph Imes in the united States, including those of the Western Union Telegraph Company, are fixed annually by the Postmaster General, and all payments in excess of those rates will be at the expense of the persons making the payments. Payment for Govemmejifc messages sent over telegraph lines owned or operated by bond-aided railroad companies is forbidden^by law. Write numbers out when fewer words result than there are figures in the number, except in cablegrams, when figures should be used instead of the corresponding words. , . . Do not abbreviate ordinal numbers, sncli as 16tli (three words), 3rd (two words), 22nd (three words); but write them sixteenth, third, and twenty-second. ^ d ^ ^ ^ i ixi • t Telegrams, or any part thereof, relating to leave of absence are not ofiicial. Telegrams relating to salary or expense cnecxs are only omcial when the funds are actually necessary to carry out official instructions; and such messages must be clearly explained^. Telegrams between the several Departments of the Government and their ofBcers and agents, m their transmission oyer the lines of any telegraph company to which has been given the right of way, timber, or station lands from the public domain shall liave priority over all other business, at siibh TGt,A,q PoRtmnster General shall anniiallv fix. And no 'oart of anv annroTiriation for the several Departments of the Government section. — Rev, Stad., sec, 5266 the provisions of this 8—1 < COMMISSIONERS F. M. Newbert M. J. Connell E. L. Bosqui EXECUTIVE OFFICER Carl Westerfeld Fish and Game Commission of CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO August 23, 1918, Llr. Alexander ’i'etmore, Sacramento , California. Dear Sir:- On looking over the rice vs, ducks data we find a slight mistake has been made inadvertently by me in the compilation of same. The mistake is in the letter which was forwarded to you from us by the State Agricultural Depart- ment, dated January 8, 1918, The mistake is on the first page in the third line from the bottom. You will note this line "Ivlr, Sehorn ■<? Tx has informed tis, etc,". This line should I read’llr, Egilbert has informed us', etc," We have this clipping taken from the .'.illows Journal, 1 which you, no doubt, saw among our other data, I Will you please make this correction for x^s, .1 .. Very trul/r yoxxrs 1 Hv I • ■ ■} \ GirBJS ■J ii)*‘ ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS “FISH AND GAME COMMISSION” f CLARENCE F. LEA 1st Dist. California lit i 1 i. 01. ^ * Auguet 23, 191 8, __ i;'i %ln Mr. Alexander '','^etmore, 1 " State Horticultural Commieeion, Sacramento, Calif, Dear Mr. ^I^etmore:- I have die cussed your visit to California a number of times with Dr. Neleon. I presume you have heard from him in reference to the interest of Mr* W* D’Egilbert, Secretary of the V/es.tern Rice Growers’ Association of Willows, Glenn County, California, Mr. D’Egilhert has long been interested and active in reference to this matter, both as Secretary of his Association and as an individual , ri ce grower M I 1 and I should very much appreciate it if you would get ! in touch Hjith him while making your investigation. jAnprcciat ing your work which is of so much i * ; interest tjo our people of the rice growing sections, I am. IJ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WA8HINQTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO August 19, L918. Dr. Alex Wetmore, loll Forum Building, Sacremento, Oalifornia. dear lifetmore: I trust you I'lave received my letter of August 5, and tiie vaa’ious telegrams relating to your work in the 7/est* The situation is as follows; the damage to rice should engage your attention first, and be given all the time it needs. Before the latter part of September when an opportunity occurs you canworli: vd th the quail. After tnat if you can take time off from the work in relation to ric^yuu can lean, by correspondence with Hr. Beck, whose address I furnished ycu, what is tne best time to make tne apricot and almond investigations, and whether both might possibly be done at the same time. Mr. Nelson wishes to see you while in the West, he will be in Oregon in September, and if you maice the trip to 7/asnington in that month please write Finley and keep him informed of your address. If these arrange- mients are not carried out Mr. Nelson will want to see you in California early in October. He should be able to get in touch with you there tiirough the Came Conmission or Gar lough. * Your telegram relating to inailing address and boots has been received. The latter will go forward by mail. Sincerely, 6</. Bnu Assistant Biologist. ^ ^ DUCKS VERSUS RICE H J . iJi Jf The Country Must Make Up Its Mind Which 1 It Prefers to Have W E DO not know that wild ducks have any economic value whatever except for food. If ihey arc valuable for that those who get them should pay for the feed which the pests consume. They are “pro* lected,** however, by State law, and are unavailable for food at any time of the year except by those able to go snd kill them to the limited amounts permitted, after ihey have been fattened at other people’s expense. As • matter of fact, they are not “preserved” for food, but for the gratification of those who find pleasure in killing something. In addition to this, being “migratory” birds, there is Federal law. savagely enforced — probably under the ^‘Interstate Commerce” clause of the Constitution, or possibly the general welfare clause — which overrides )ltate authority, and would penalize any rice grower who fought to ‘protect his property, whatever the state law permitted. There are, therefore, two sets of sleuths watching the rice growers to sec that they do not . prevent |he ducks from eating and wasting their rice by any incans more deadly than shooing them away. Thus far' that has not been forbidden, but if the United States Government may lawfully interfere in the matter at all k may do so to any degree of efficiency it desires. ' ^ j There is, if we remember correctly, something in the Constitution which purports to prevent ‘any public authority, from taking private property without compen- sation or otherwise than by due process of law. But the Constitution seems not to count any more. The Government urges the utmost possible production of grain, including rice. We stiggest' that as a >war measure it surcease from its efforts to fatten ducks for the pleasure of sportsmen on other people’s rice. It Would help a good deal in increasing rice acreage. Original copied by Smithsonian Archives 1 THE SACRAMENTO BEE JAMES McCLATCHY & CO.. PUBLISHERS. SACRAMENTO. CAL. Mr. Alexander V/ftnore, Biologic 8 lI Sur7«y, Department of Agriculture, T/aehlngton, D. C. Dear Sir: August 15, 1913. I T ■ Will you be kind enough to artviee me when you will arrive in California to investigate the duck^rioe situation? I should like very much to be of any assistance I may. Enclosed is a clipping of an editoxd.al published in The Bee Saturday, August 10th. Very truly yours. S . i^HAKKKTANS ret^tralnir from trtps alohff. the ’wedt H ■ * / • ' ' y .«lde of th« river, as weU . as the farmers in that . cinlty. and up the valley ed, report that wild ducks are swarm '* in& over the fields and that within three or four weeks the grain will be « ^ at a stage of ripeness when It will, be be no Inducement in the ornithologi- cal world stfff icient to allure -them ^from the banquet that hJTature.and the ‘energy of the farmer has spread on r those fertile reaches. • t Here Is one . case wjiere; direct ac- tion is just the thing, ; food, they will have to encourage the gated by the department of Agricul^ ture to come’to California and See for - Wetmore should conduct a thorough and Independent' lnve^gUgatibn on hiS on both banks wherever rice is plant most In danger from the fowl V ■ ( . • «; .If ‘the ranchers” want- a’' rice crop they will have to V«t rid of the ducks • ♦ » • • ^ * If the people want plenty of eh^ap ; farmer. 'And If the Government wants i . ■ ‘ . T '{ the ultimate maximum of rice pro- , duction as a war aid. It will have to back, up The People, by connivancy at least, if not by open approval. ‘ * * * • * ^ • I . Alexander Wetmore has been del^ ft . * * * • V ’* But Wetmore should* aboM being taken on a personally conducted tour of the rice region by any membe^ or member of the, State Fish and Gal •, Commission. ’ They are too opUmlstis about the matter. ^ ^ that is to jsave his crop, even at th® ■ ' ■ I .• the others of ths invlolats breed. .. Original copied by Smithsonian Archives - 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WAS HI NOTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEP, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO August 14, 1918. Dr. Alex Wetmore, Care State Horticultural Comnission, Forum Building, Sacramento, California. Dear Doctor Wetmore: Your telegram of August 13 received. As Hr. McAtee wrote you recently, the investigation of ducks in rice fields is 370ur most im- portant job this fall. You shotild keep in touch witli the rice growers organizations and individuals at Sacramento and also witli Ltr. W. D. Bgilbert, Secretary, Rice Growers Association, Willows, California, for purpose of investigating the rice fields, botla there auid elsewhere at the time they report serious depredations. 5?he investigation should be carried on throughout the season. You can do quail investigation and other work of that character as opportunity offers. Experiments should be made by use of bombs and other devices, except poison, for pxirpose of control of ducks frequenting rice fields. "" I expect to be in Sacramento, California, the latter part of September when I hope to have a conference with you and rice growers concerning the situation. Sincerely yours. Chief of Bureau. ,;- ^ :/, r- •, ■.• *■• ‘j , *■ -' • ^ ■ . / , r . ' L CLMS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Oty Meuag* Day Utter Blue Nlgiit Message NKe > .Night Utter NL If none of these three symbols appears after the cheek (number of words) th is Is a day message. Other- wise its eharacter is Indicated by the symb^ appearing after the check. - WEST UNION AM - • NEWCOMB CARLTON. PRESIDENT CEOR6E W. E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT A Form CLASS OF SERVIpE SVMWtL' Day Message r.r^'r Day Utter Blue Night Message Nite . NigM Utter N L If none of these three symbols appears after the cheek (number a# words) this is a day message. Other- wise Its character lejOdicated by the symbol appearing after the check. RECEIVED AT 12 SF OA 21 GOVT . • , . VaSHINGTON DC 1232PM AUG 14 1918 V ’ • % ALEX WETMORE ' • . , HAYWARD CAlIf . • • - ■ ' RICE-DAMAGED BY DUCKS MOST FIFTH AND ONE-SENT SACRAMENTO IMPORTANT WORK SEE LETTER AUGUST TODAY NELSON 1041AM \ ^ *•» • N s * • • • • . . ^ ^ 9 ^ ^ m x*.*: kl.»>s;«5^n -iifeo A E .T . '*.W V Ise - aVe Original copied by Smithsonian Archives I yf, » • • ^ I « % >> . -'I a ;rs V A . /, ■ , , ••.ir *. . , j • • r ' ■ •T -'- Vj.' I Ir * • ,> 1 » ^ ( \ • ' VT -rjs f V »» » I •A f . j 0 Y p:i • r: San Francisco, CJalif., August 13, ISlo. <■ TTonoriAoJe Clarence E. Lee, L. C. Viashington, D. C. ^ wi % He Eiri-atorv 3ird Be'orcJatii- ns « Lear IIr» Lee: Supplementing mj,- reply more fully to' yours of July 18th rela- tive to the regulations for protecting Sacfenento rice ■^ov/ers from the depredation of migrate^ birds, may I .say that the decision of Hr. Kel- son to send Lr. Alexander Wetmore to the Sacramento Valley to investi- gate these conditions is receiving the hearty appioval of the public generally. As wired you today, the duc'KS of the .Lallard variety are now be- ginning to bunch over the rice fields in greater quantities than last year and much earlier in the season. ' t To r.K*‘ it is desirous that hr. ‘--etmore ^et to the coast not later than September first. ’»7e will coamence harvesting rice of an early vari- ety on our own property probably about September 12th j'ust thirty days ; ahead of last season’s record, an^ I would be especially honored to have f Llr. Wetmore call upon me personally and if I have advices in advance will see that he has the right I'eception from the men whom he v/ill find it ne- co-^sary to get the correct information from, i. e., the rice and grain gro’.Tners of tlie Valley. * r - - a. , . » * 1 » • I have endeavored tO'get the rice g:jowers individually to send letters to you and in some cases L believe.! have been successi'ul but the best efforts will result from the personal visit of .Lr. L'etmore v/ho will 1 C * ■* ■ be able to interview these men right on the ground. • :• ' TO' Goiioeruing our ovm' losses last year I may state conservatively tliat we lost 4000 sacks of rice wi th” an *equivalentmoney. value of say vlG,000. Ue liad, as you personally savf, about tv;enty-five aci*es of'rice matux'ed and ready to cut tint was absolutely stripiped by the ducks before the binders cO’uld get in, and the surrounding area produced forty sacks to the aci*o. » . * « • . Then we had in excess of twenty, acres of rice in the shock wMch 7/as stripped of every grain and in addition there were pieces of rice land in manorous places on the field that wore stripped in -various stages. These depredations commenced about September 12th, 1917, but the worst feature or at least when v/e noticed it most was v/hen the water v/as off the fields nri<l the rice in the shook. T?e were then able to estimate our losses easily. f- s k i • l' ‘ 'J' l.■■^•■. ..r-' ,,;■ V ✓ y- - 2 - .% r I have made the estimate that if other surroundins acreages lost in proportion to our loss that there v;ero 320,000 sacks of rice destroyed by ducks in the rico season of 1017, and from present indications judging by the enormous flights of young birds at this early season I am inclined to believe that a much larger flight will taije place this year than in any previous year to mj’ knowledge. It would -therefore be a very opportune time for the Government repro. ontatives to be on the spot. It must also be borne in mind thit a million dollars v/orth of rice VC.S not all that vra.c lost. The ^astura^ season for hogs, sheep and turkeys v/as curtailed at least sixty days from say Jan^lar’’• 31st to Larch 31st be- cause of the ravages of ducks in tlie night time and geese in tho daytime. I am credibly infOKn.ed tliat at least a million dollars should be added from that loss alone. Lay I not add my apiireciation of your effoi*ts in behalf of tho rice and grain grov/ers of the State, and v;ith best vdslies, Verj' tnaly yours, (SGII) h. D. Zgilbert 1cm 'I V ^ i- k* k. BSr.. 7 ^' ■’ 1 • \ -I ^ . *. C'. * *? . .V ^ * q— p I*" I* ■> ■■ ■ ■■' •. V. * • *Jfc t*’^ Colusa flanterDeeiares Guns' >hd wmmunrtiBti Are; Keatfy? s > ftoiProtect Crops. ’-‘.ji -V ■• ' V*-— 7-~r^ •*. •■' ^fip«cUl IM»patch‘ to Tbe Clironlcie.'^* V^>'^r- ^ 'I SACRAMENTO, iA.u gust llr— Rice | isrrowera of .the Sacramento .valley, 'now 'producing: crop valued In. the .millions, are buying: shotgruns and •ammunition <ln larg:e rquantltiea in preparation for an . off ensive ^ agrainat ducks, which swarm* into the fields and damage the crop. ‘‘ ^v. r.!-- , ^ 'This preparedness movement to pro- tect thetr crops is being taken in spite of ^the “protests ‘ of ,the State Pish ^and Game Commission that the killing of ,ducks'Out>of- season* for crop protec-, tiori is- illegal, .according to Morris Brooke of Sacrameifito, ' an extensive grower'of the Princeton, Colusa coun- ty. section. V • ; ; GRO^HBRS - KNOW/OF L.OSSF 8 ' Brooke declares /.that ‘*despite 7 all the camouflage that has been used by the* fish and game authorities, ‘ the growers know that they have', lost much valuable grain' through thc*^rav- ages of these ^irds. Every 'Ounce^ Of cereal_;is needed this year Ih the,wln- tilng of .the war, and those farmers are not go^ng to sit -idly, by and’ soe the ducks eat up'.their ’crops. ^ Bucks have come. earlier this year; and they > > f. ^ •» \r •• \x b- 'd are plentiful, tpo. ‘.The growers are' going to 'see tliat the Federa^ agent appointed to tnves- Ugate damak<^ T>yroUcks to rlca gets the growers’pside.ofjthe question... < RICE ' BIRpis* 'NATURAt,’ IHlkED >“The 'g.rowers,*** Baysr^Brooka, '**faar' that this representative .will'* get Into, the toils, of I^esldefit FYank Newbart of .the 'State Fish ahd Game Comoois- . S on,' and-not^get tear inf ormatlbn bn le p ^tUatlonV ' iAn ... impromptu epm- J iittee <of growers'^ to spb ' this 068 . not*' * happen 'already ‘ is . being 'formed- - - * '• ;•. ‘ l."-*' •' t • *- t • fd • « ♦*w%> 4^- »*Tt' 4 s Utterly ridiculous tp say that* /lucks do liot feed on rice.' It.is/tha] patural foo"d df'-thb duck. ' I' remem*' J^er .that .a duck’ ‘club to ^ which vl b^.* longed spent ;| 40 " or $50 planting * rloe In "the swamps to attract ducks-’Vi^*S Original copied by Smithsonian Archives /v i-/f- UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINQTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO Aijgust 9, 1918. Dr, Alox Wetniore, 1011 Forum Building, Sacramento, Oalifomia. Dear Wetmore: Under separate cover I am sending a few bones of a bird found in the stomach of a jaeger. The san^le is not very complete and the bird appears to bo immature, taiosn from the egg if I am not mistaken, I shall be obliged for any opinion you may be able to give on this material, which it is possible you could name more closely if you were in Washington. I am inclosing also a letter from one of our South iumerican friends, which I should like to have you translate for me. I think I know wliat the man is driving at, but it is a case where I want to know exactly, Ehis letter is from one of the institutions removed from the exchange list of the Biological Society and invited to become a subscriber. Your report on the birds of Stinking Lake has been copied and « turned over to Preblewith careful instructions as to its use, I talked over this matter with the Chief and he confirms the i 2 i 5 )ression you iswre* got in your conversation with him before you left Washington, with best regards. .# Sincerely, Assistant Biologist. Inclosxire 5926 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO August 9, 1910 Dr. Alex ’iVetmore , 1011 Forum Building, SacraiTiento , California. Dear Doctor Wetmore: I find it necessary to call your attention to one or t%vo omissions in submitting your reimbursement accounts. One is rel- ative to meals secJured at one point for an extended period. Para- graph 98-J of the Fiscal Eegtilations requires liiat subvoucher be secured in such instances where the period is a week or more, un- less it is shovm that the meals were paid for at the time obtained. We have assumed that meals obtained by you at Williams, Arizona, from July 7 to 16, inclusive, were paid for as obtained, and have supplied this information. You should make this statement, however, in all cases coming within this provision of the regulations. Also, in connection witli expenses for transfer of baggage, if the charge is for more than one piece it should be shown that ^ extra piece contained Government property or personal property/^in connection with official v/ork. Very truly yours. { J^atiftr Strp AHanriattnn GENERAL OFFICES: THIRD FLOOR. FRUIT BUILDING SACRAMENTO. CAL. k A August 8, 1918. J Alexander Wetmore, Ssq., Glenville. California. Dear Sir: I thank you very much for the promptness of your reply to my recent communication. _ Responding to the inquiries contained in your faw r of August 2, I have to say that already the migrant ducks are coming in and within the next ten days or two weeks these birds will be in the rice fields by the thousands. They will remain here • until next February and possibly into March in full munbers as after the crop has been harvested , they feed upon' the fallen grain. months. You will thus see that we have this menace with us several The early varieties of rice are rapidly matjuring and already offer excellent feed for the wildfowl. Sincerely hoping that I may have the pleasure of meeting you personally upon your arrival here, I am, i Very respectfully, A1 Secretai^: p - ir 1 ■ jr 1 i C UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO A'U^USl/ 1916* Br. Alex Wetzaore, 1011 fonun Building, Caorflpaento , California. Dear Wetmore; Inclosed are copies of letters which I trust will be of use to you in planning your work. The data relating to bird damage in Klickitat County, Washington, is not very specific as to time the da m age occtirs. Probably you can obtain more exact information on this point by \Yriting to Hans Beck, Goodnoe Hills, V/ashington. You of course understand that the relations of wild ducks to rice in California is your most important piece of work. Close atten- tion should be given to this at regular and short intervals so that no complaint that, it has been sli^ted can possibly be brought. The pro- tection of fields by bombs seems a most promising method and I am en- closing letters about two fims which have the bombs for sale. The great effects of this method result from the dislike ducks have to be- ing disturbed at night. Testimony of hunters is unjnimous that shoot- ing at ni^t has a hundred fold greater effect in driving birds away than shooting by day. Hepeated disturbance at night makes them entire- ly forsake the locality. The aux shells requested are being sent by express to Haywards and mail will be sent in care of Garlough, as heretofore. Your Lake Jurford report Yias safely received and is being copied. When the time comes I shall request that it. be used as you wish. I ^Exccuti^c ®ffire Forum building. Sacramento Geo. P. Weldon, chief deputy ^nsectKTQ ^tfitsum CAPITOL PARK. SACRAMENTO 627 N. OLIVE ST.. Alhambra Harry S. Smith, superintendent of Caltfomta fiJommbstan irf ^tfxixmlinxt G. H. HECKE Cmtimisatoner <Dunr«t(tinr ^tiittston Room 11 Ferry building San Francisco ROOM 324 UNION league BUILDING Los ANGELES ROOM 8 COUNTY COURT HOUSE SAN Diego Frederick Maskew CHIEF Deputy quarantine officer YJJ /V D. C. FESSENDEN Secretary July 29, 1918. Mr. Alex. Wetmore, Assistant Biologist, U.S. Dept, of Agriculture, Glenville, Calif. Dear Mr. Ytetmore; I have your letter o f JUly 28th and have forwarded two letters and four packages as per your request. If you will notify us of any change of address, v/e will give same attention. j t • Very truly yours ^ STATE COMMISSI Oil ' OP HORTICULTURE, By Assistant Secretary Rodent Control. n or I Dodge Land Goni>anj% Chico, Oiilifoniia. July 20, 1S18. If . -If,': « honorable Clarence* E. Lea, ^ ■. / • I,'' 0/0 House of HeprEsontativos, Mashington, iD. G. Dear Sir: ETfSN I - - ay ■m • • Tith regard contemjplated legislation affect ii3g migratory game bii'ds, Y/e -dosiro to submit for your consideraficn certain facts reg:irding our experience during the last tv/o seasons in* the Cacrencnto Valley, *;7ith jpar- ticular reference to v/ild ducl^s destroying crops, of rice# .*4 •*« ./ ,J 3 -- - In the fall of 1216 v;e suffered loss due to the duclzs coning into the fields at night and-eating rice,.. but being operators in a new section somewhat distant from the older rice growiiig section, the greater portion of the birds not being aware of the ne^7 feeding grovaids passed over our fields to land further^ east or saith. Beginning with September 1217, ducks, more particularly of the Teal variety began coming in in large nvuEbors to feed on the slightly ma- tured rice'; the inroads being moat p>articularly noticed where the birds l)ad also been found in 1916’. FollCkVing a heavy storm on the racific Coast, the mallards came = In in enormous flights, three flights arriving within a few hours one evening were estimated to contain 750,000 birds. 4 ^ During the month of October and Lovercber the oiioimous number of ducks^'ceming ‘Tn necessitated 'bur large' r-f’fnbers of 'rert with guns, slcj-’rockets and sundry devices to scare off the Llrds, but these ef- ^ forts wore only partially successful. In some instances a flock of ir^il- lard arriving during the middle of the ni^t v/ould comx>letely consume the B^fp'orop on an area rangeing from a few acres, five or six, to fifteen or twenty acres. In 'one ''instance , a patch of forty acres vra,s compjlotely con- sumed in one night. In another instance about fifteen^acres of rice wliich had been cut and shocked \.-ere consumed, the ducks' tearing doiivn the shocks and also roaring apart t]je bundles. • ^ . . .. - * • uQ estimated the loss of rice incurred last season due to the de- ^ predation qf^ the ducks to have had a market value of fifty thousand dol- lars. This loss had to be distributed on an area of 6500 acros. 1 * )i^ * « -4 1 \s In addition to contending mth the ducks we v/ore coiapelled to guard^ our v.'heat and barley fields until about the first of April to pre- vent our plantings fron being destroyed by geese, which were also in this disti'ict in unusually large minbers. -Under conditions such as existed in autumn and vdnter of 1S17 and 18, we are placed in a peculiar position of either devoting out money and ' effort to the production of feed for 'supporting migratory g.me birds, or committing acts which are in opposition to established laws. You v/ill agree with me that under existing conditions a reasonable man will take chances in opx>osition to established law in order to save food crops, piir- ticularly grain, but it is nevortlieless a vorj'^ unfavorable position for ■ individual to Jbe placed in,, _ . \l * tb* '» <■ V- aro accordingly .ver;,'* much interested in legislation which v;ill perrait grain grovirers to x^rotect their croj^s against destruction by mi- gratory gome birds and yet be able to stay within the lav; ax)pjortaining to the treatment of game birds . can submit evidence in su£)X)ort of our statements and can also i^rocure additional evidonoe from xjeoplo simi- larly situated and completely establish the fact that the losses incurred by the inroads of migratory game birds are now a very serious matter, which in our opinion requires x^^omxjt action along effective lines ' 1 .w Yours truly, ( aCli; ) , DODGE Uad) GOidV-lTl', ■ 1cm '< ■ •• <’ - y >: >. U'-'. • * > V ^ M m. ^ ■ By II. 0 Jaoobson,Liamger. m .1 .V. <■' -# V -- 1^3 .it. ■y- - i •• Rooms on the European Plan Payable in Advance Monthly rates effective only when dating from the first day of the month Any time less than full month will be charged for on the basis of daily rates ROOM. 31 1 K7?. A. WTg-TOfliPT;. TO COLONIAL ANNEX HOTEL, dr ROOM. PARTY ARRIVE Dale . Meals ^ Laundry ■ Baggage jTelepkone Papers 417 STOCKTON STREET ABOVE SUTTER SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.,. DEPART TIME Cask Advanced Amount RATE |1,00 Daily Totals DEBITS CREDITS /o O / '/ J JUL26I918 COLONIAL — UL r>. Rooms on the Rnropean Plan Payable in Advance Monthly rates effective only when dating from the first day of the month Any time less than full month will be charged for on the basis of daily rates ROOM 311 A. WETUOEE To COLONIAL ANNEX HOTEL, dr -i ROOM. 311 417 STOCKTON STREET ABOVE SUTTER SAN FRANCISCO. CAI PARTY ARRIVE DEPART JUL 18 Dale Meals ' LannJry Baggage Telephone Papers — i H — - ■' Cash Advanced 9 ' DEBITS CREDITS TIME RATE Amount ll.OO Daily Totals COLONIAL ANNEX HOTEL t ^x*cutr6r (|>ffice FORUM BUILOINO. SACRAMENTO Geo. P. Weldon, chief deputy C^uicrKntme ROOM n Ferry ButuoiNa SAN Francisco ROOM 324 UNION LEAGUE BUILDING Los ANGELES CAPITOL PARK. SACRAMENTO 827 N. OLIVE ST.. Alhambra Harry S. Smith, superintendent ROOM 8 COUNTY COURT HOUSE SAN Diego of Olaliforitta Frederick Maskew Chief Deputy Quarantine Officer uf ^crttculturie G. H, HECKE (EinttatipeuiKcr D. C. FESSENDEN ^ecxetar^ 24tL, 191 Dr 0 „lex. M e t m <y >• As si o t an t - • '1 ol w' re au of ;U ol OP* xi'-' to 1 Ooi oni ‘1 ) n n yv anc .1. V, “ 9 . I , W' Je nr .Je trao re ,.‘0 h'i'TO ociapliou with, ^'■our i’eg_ue.^t of July 23rd to forv7ar(: ycur mail to dan Jranyisco. ,Ve have tv/o small p.ac.cayes for you which will he retained until v/e hear further from you . I c; I can assure you. jjlad to do Huythin? ’e can the Biological Survey, that /e re only i oo to assist rneri'hern of nd oey that you mate yourself at home at our office ./hen in .^acl'ament and consider It headej^uarters • nnytrilny th|‘l -lo can do to m; >e your visit pleasant we stand r ifon.iia most \y \j vA •rj ,* U >J ■ • I A' H i ' ' ■ I N- ' Vora laoi lifii. OISmt- ilottad byttM fHjfju^CHnrr f OEORas W/w aTkins, pmsrvict-pRmD Xi’^AWFRANC f SCO CAl IF '^'^ 5 ?'; . r £/‘ ‘•^*’ V ^ ' ’'^ ^*-1 ^ L- . -*5:> '■ *• •ft . A - - ' ^ ' '_A (tHEtK'XAK* MAI L «AMENT0 HENDEBSON !0!Ki^%' CUM or SERVICE WMBOL . ■' - i T' '^Vj ,rj >S 1 L .’’i * * I Original copied by Smithsonian Archives - -f NT w,; f i. ^tymboti ^ mtoti of r to Indl^t^l^ tli9 i^aiiboIjipptoHli^ tftor jfeo NEWCOMB CARLTON 1^; BECeJv^^ STS.; SAN FRANCISCO.: ALW ,T ^ ' ' *'■ - i.' i GEORGE W; E. ^JKI Lpm ► ENT Si \ai,^ • . -S CLASS OF SERVICE *T>i]r M«toi96 V ■ Dwyi^to.' * flliilit Mwmgw Ntoht Litt«r ^ rif Doft of' these ■lipe^ijfter the cheek intsmiMr im leadoymeesoBe. OftwT I wfte itiDhareeter ie iodlcatodhyttio tyUbo^ppeariiig after the olieeto ■-rTk • . ■ «■ > « •if • ., . 1 '^•.'.et J'T. •»: •i ;--•#•■ » -k' • i ;-- v '■,1 .". ' . ’ >. *•- •x.*' ■ 'V M l9!5JUL.[?t iSi 9..S9 V * t /■ t T ^ .®i2qs iw ^OVT ^BAKEWSF IELP CAL IF P1«A 22 ■ > ‘ • * - " •AfETIIOREl^'0l5. V- ";C0LW ''. -'• fe * ^ *; '« ■’ «5 — liitL BAKERSfTeLI) 'SOUTHERN HOTEL 'JULY TWENTY TWO TO TWENTY •fourth fW twenty 'SIXTrt BERKELEY TWENTY •kvENTH -W twenty E'ICHTH ADV »SE' TTMEf AND PLACE'| • l .* V i „>'* ■» . »*r. -♦r '■ ; -w^ s -- I •:•■ :'•* ./?• lot. 4 ' a yi4 ■ ■N. ' 4 .=‘' , . . . " • . ?• •’ • . ■ ? '. i. ■ . r ' ’ sr^ ^ I .s , V garlougm =ii ■* * /», 3 7»y^- . .’.L T •r ^ I Original copied by Smithsonian Archives UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY Bakersfield, Calif. Mr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Biologist, Washington, D. C. Dear Ivir, Wetmore j- Your letter of the 22nd received this evening and in repljc will say that I shall be pleased to meet you the 28th at your hotel in San Francisco. I may be a day late in arriving at Berkeley so am suggesting that I meet you on the 28th. I may not leave Porterville until Saturday night and would not arrive in S.P. until Sunday morning. In which case would run on in to the city before going home to Berkeley. Very truly yours. Biological Assistant. .c UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINQTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OP BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO July 22, 1918. Mr. Alex Wetmore, G/o Mr. I'.E. Garlough, 1011 ^'orum bldg., Sacramento, Cal. Dear Mr. Wetmore: Your memorandum note stating that salary checM for the period Jxine 15 to 30, 1916, which was mailed to you at Gallup, N.M., had not been received, is at hand. As requested, we are aslcing the Misuursing Office to have payment on this check stopped and a Bond of Indemity prepared, which will be sent you later, for use in requesting the issuance of a duplicate check in case the original check does not show up in the me 2 uitime. If you have not already done so, it would be well for you to ccanmunlcate with the Postmaster at Gallup to make absolutely sure that the letter in question is not being held. Should the original check reach you, you should not attempt to cash it imtil advising this office, in order that stoppage of payment may be re- moved. I Very In Charge of Accounts. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D, C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO July 18, 1918 Ur. Alex Wetmore, c/o F.E. fiarlough 1011 Forum Bldg., Sacramento, Cal. Dear Mr. Wetmoret I notice that you are going to considerable unnecessary labor in itemizing subsistence supplies in your reimbursement account. Inis is not required if the supplies are itemized on the subYoucher. All you need to show under the date of purchase in the account itself is the word, "Supplies”, giving the sub- voucher number and the total amount of the purchase. By eliminating this unnecessary detail, it will save your- solf considerable labor, as well as this office in checking the items against the subvouchers. Very UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINOTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO T. uly 13, 1910. Dr. .ilex Wetmore Vi'illiams, Arizona. Dear Dr. yetmore: Letter of Authority Ko. 70 Bi. is enclosed, in accordance v/ith v;hich you will interview .raembers of the Boaru uf ?ish and Game Gonrnissioners and get their testimony relating to alleged destruction of <juii.il and other birds as a result of poisoning operations the Biological Purvey is cai’ryiixg on a- gainst injurious mammals in California. In this comiection you should con- sult also ornithologists connected with the University of California, Berkeley, and later in the summer those of the Southern Division of the Cooper Ornitho- logical Club at Los Angeles and vicinity. By telegraphing you can learn whore Lr. Garlough actually is working, get in touch v/ith him and learn the localities it will be necessary to visit and the most favorable dates. It is hoped that you v/ill be able to investigate damage to apricots and almonds in klickitat County, V.ashington in September and October, and da- mage to rice by wild ducks in the Sacreraonto Valley, California in llovomber, but you v/ill be informed in detail about these projects later on. Vory Enclosure Do. 9649. At present it is not possible to state tiie exact amount you will be authorized, to expend during the inonth of August in case the regular / Agricultural ApTvroj>riation Act has not passed beiore then, but you v;ill "be advised bn or before August 1 as to this amount. Should the regular bill pass during July, ,any remaining balance on yo-or authorisation will, 4 of course, be available for use during the remainder of the fiscal year. Very tnzly yours, ■' 7 / j"/r / / Chama, N. M., .191 t 1/ 'IOa. ■, r/ CPt^ fit- .a^ /; / m « 4/lAWy^UUi ^ COi.^ / y. f / '/U/Ct(y^ U/tlc) y{yV^ o^(>x4Jio( r L£ yrzy''y) yzy<yyi^ A* 9 /9f9- 4 r ^ • *' ^ r V ' * I 4. k. - t' • ^ t " 5r •• ' i ^ jT J • « I # • Form 1204 U ^ « r CUSS OF SERVICE SYMBOL . Dsy Mm««« - / - a * bay Uttar ' Blua Ni#it MMaaft * NIta Night Uttar NL . If nom of thaas ttaraa Aymlwli appaare aftar tha aback (numbaref worda)thia ia a day inaaaaf a. Ottiar- wtaa U eharactor ia indieatad by Ilia tyanbal appaarbig after ttw aback. ' j 4^ WESTE - r / UNION S NEWCOMB CARLTON. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. E. ATKINS. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT CUSS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Day Maaoaga Day Uttar* Blue ‘ Night Maaaaga NIta Ni|lit Uttar . NL ' If nona of thaaa ttirta tymbola apfiaara after tha ehaek (laimbar of warda)lMa ia a day maaaaga. Other- wba itacharactar te kidteatad by tha aymbol appaarlng after lha ehaek. I RECEIVED AT •» • i i ' r * ISgB t ' 18 ’ Govt -pffits \ J ' , * r- •• •' -p •’ ' -V*- •* -• V . *'* ♦ *> - - •• '=^i'Alsx Wet mors, V.' . • * ^ • t ^ _ .- vi-\ T WaBhington D C July i0.,l9i8. • I V 1 , I 7 * / - * I w . V. 3T. «3{. >, . .. 'V 1 - — ' • - »-j i > i‘ *• - •T -* / Wl-lllamB ; .Ariz . -^ock' Bent ‘^Gallup June twenty nine letter authority and tranBpoytB 3Sn|way;V Wi > . - ' V . *» - . r . -i / . j -r “ *■- ' ' ■ ^ •; ■y^ '■ '"> ( .-V' JT e les on . » -'j • - 'V • » '‘V N’ r I V ^ 4 , • -;a i . ,. « V/. . 7t * 'r~ . . ' ^ »-• ft '^ » r» - *v ? •<■-> ? v'^-V-.V> I - ■ ‘ •. . . -'T t ■ . * . ■. v>.vr.--Vv; .1 n.' - .L * N- / “ 4 . /<i • X . •* • ^ — I V .► »' I rx>'z \ . ‘ ■ . *' * ” •'- ■- •' ' •-■ ’.*■ - Th'* 1 '5*' '^v ;. -- • ‘ 4. • ; V / .-- -»>. » V* '^*^ 4 - - . ^ ^ ■ - -p» " > ^ ' 4 '*■ .,. - ■ ;;^?.v V -'- •. •• : %■;"•. =" '.. '■ .4- -.■• .■ ■■ ■ .,. • ■■- ■ - r ' .• ' -:: ■; " -<> • - '■’ • ■■ '"* ':'y - i*iiiaVil|| I 2 ,. ^_.. ■ si -i. •* ► ♦ -I • -lf>- . * sVi f' . U - • ■ ■t, .-.. . ■<■,'. ,. ;. -■•• ' • ■' ■ ■~' — ,'jr T ft. ._ .'i^'‘4' *. ^ *» /• » Original copied by Smithsonian Archives June <i6-July 5, 1916 Tm BIKD3 yOUfTD IM fi lZ. AhiiA IN 2il£ OHUdCA MOU^IgAlIId. »fi7 MEXIOO, * •vtvi “• Alexander Wetmore . Introd notion and Itinerary* In aooordauce vflth instruotione I preoeoded to Gallup* Nev Uexioo* arriving there on the evening of June S4* 1918 and there outfitted for woric on the hi^ raeea at the southern and of the Jhusea fountains. 9e left Oallup on the morning of June 26* anu drove via Fort jDefiance* Arisona to hed Lake* New IJexioo* a distance of 47 miles and there aiude oamp for the ni(jht. On the following morning a survey was made of lied Lake and we then continued on to the site of Black Iaik. 6 near the foot of the Bonsala Buttes* This lake was entirely dry. From here we crossed to Crystal* New liexico* a trading store and post-office at the upper end of the hed Lake ^ Valley and there oami:ied for the night* On June 26 we drove to the summit of Cottonwood Pass and from there up the steep slopes to the south into the hi£^ mesa that forms the siuoait of the Chusca Uoim tains* Wo continued south down this mesa crossing the trail from Crystal to dheep Bprings and \ camped at noon near the first of the Lakes in this region* at a spring known as Tsa-'hah-esse. From this camp 1 woxked south through the lake region un the summit of the Uesa* On July 1 we moved camp six miles south, . to a small sheltered valley on the western side of the large lake culled Be-e-khet-huffl-nes. Camp was made in the aspozis above a small lake at the southwestern comer of the large lake* separated from it by a low ridge. # From hero the large laxe was examined and a study made of the remaining lakes on the lower end of the mesa do^n to the Deza Plateau* On July 3 we 'fJ returned north to Oottonwood PasB, stopped, for tvfo hours at 7600 feet on the west side of the pass and then continued on to Crystal where caop was made for the night. *ln July 4 wo continued on, making a second brietf examination of hed Lake and camped at waterholes in an arroyo east of the rock formation known as the haystacks, 8 miles oast of Fort Defiance, 'Arizona and within the flew ;iexlco boundary line. On J41y 6 we continued to Gallux.), flew ilexico. PHYaioGhAPHX and GaNKIUtL ACOOUIJT. The Chusoa Hoimtains lie in nortliwestem flew itekloo near the Arizona line and are included within the lioiits of the flava^o Indianaheservation. The part of this momitain range covered in the present report extends from Cottonwood Pass six miles north of Crystal New Uexico south to the south- ern end of the range. (The wagon road that crosses at Cottonwood Pass is not shown on the Geological durvey sheets.) The sunmit of the mountains here is a great undulataug mesa that lies in the main at 8800 feet above sea level with points at Intorvalb rising to 9000 feet. The postion of this mesa examined In the present connection comprises an area about ID miles 4 long and from one to three miles broad. The mountain extends in a general way from northwest to southeast. The underlying rook of the sunmit of the mesa is a fine-grained light colored sandstone that where exposed breaks readily into thin slabs from half an inch to two inches thicx. The bods of this sandstone have a I dip of about 30 degrees to the northwest while the strata are tilted some- what to the east. This formation forms low ridges running in general across the mesa from east to west with lower areas betr/een, the surfaces of which are diversified by many hollows of varying size. These hollows form the -3- b«dM of a lar^ nunbor of la^s. About 30 of tbeao are pennaneut while I eiuuitined the dry beds of about 40 others large enough to be of In^ortance when filled. In addition there were a large number of smaller basins all of which will contain water after the start of the suninor rains The surface of the mesa has fire brood oponings* containing grassy » meadows extending across it that average from half a mile to a mile in breadth while the Intejrvening ^rtions are grown with a flno forest of Yellow Pine more dense on the southern half of the plateau. The larger lakes lie in the broad openings while smaller ones, some only fifty garde across, are found in small hollows scattered throufi^ the forest, duakiug aspens ( Populus a few oaks ( auerous satoabili ) were noticed. Douglas spruce grows in some areas on the mesa and in the canyons that break from the summit on the north and west. ■ ' This hi^ mesa is used by the Navajo Indiana as a grusing ground I • $ for stock, Buosier and winter hogans inhabited by these people were scat- terod about over tbo suaiiiiit and tho Inulane thensolvoB were soon daily* X y estimated that during the period covered by this work that 6000 s^eep, 360 the forest* The season hud been dry and the gracing animals had cropped tha range olosaly so that tha mauduWb and laita ahorea had only the ahortaat I of grass remaining. Because of this lack of feed it was necessary' to liasten played out. The sueuaer rains started as we were leaving so that feed would (Pinus b raehyptera 1 • This forest is scattered and open at the north and fturnw ) form extensive groves at the heads of small slopes and valleys and I mors horses and cattle as it was difficult to estimate the nimber found in the work as much as praotioable in order to get out before our own stock ihsir soon be abundant. ^ t i I I / V' On e:k^uialng this &re a crliioally It wau found that there were three lalces of permanent water of fair aize* The first of these ^own as Long Lake was the fartheM north, lying at the northern end of the lake region. This lake was about three-quarters of a mile long and from 50 to 125 yaxxls wide. s I It was grown with aifaatio Tegetation save for a small open space at the eastern end. ;iix miles south in a broad opening lay Be-e-khet-hum-nes, the largest permanent lake here, with a length. of a mile and a breadth of naif a mile. It was grown with vegetation save for an area of 160 acressin the southern end. Five miles farther south was To-teh-khih of Blaok Lake which was at the tizne one half mile long by one-eighth mile broad. It was nearly covered by aquatic growth. All of the lakes examined were swampy and ranged at the present time from 18 Mdhss to 4 feet deep and 1 was able to wade through them without trouble. In late summer and fall all were much more extensive. The beds of several other lakes were examined that were as large as these but that had better drainage and ^parently were filled only during wet weather, dome of the smaller lakes in the woods were open but most of them ware grown with aquhliovegetation. Theie were Innumerable small hollows everywhere that from all appearances held water when it was ruining but that now were dry. These had a belt of grass around the margin then an area of Eleocl^iaria . all closely cropped while the center was usuall,/ dried blaok mud. «' The center was ueually dried black mud. The entire surface vqs almost uni- versally cut up into hollows and hummocks by horse and cattle tracks made while the mud was soft. » • The region is one of strong, sweeping winds and has a ounsiderable ' j- rainfall, dmall showers oaiae daily during the x^riod of this work and the heavy driving rains of summer and fall ware not faraway -6 HRSIOSIMG WATfiRyOWL . The nutaber of breeding waterfowl on this mesa wae very small a fact to be attributed probably to the lack of safe cover and to their constant distxfibance by grasing stock* All shore vegetation of ©very character was eaten down to the ground so that the borders of the lakes all around were bare open, devoid of all cover. In addition to this horses waded every- where through the ahallow lakes feeding on runs: growth of a grass that fortoeu floating bogs in the water 1 Panioularia? see specimen &40), and on an JSleooharis that grew there likewise in abundance. There was one pair of Blue-winged Teal on LongLake and a pair of huddy bucks on Be-e-2hat-huia-aes. Besides these 1 saw about 10 pairs of liallards tluit seemed to be breeding. Part of these were on the three large lakes and the rest wore foxmd on sins 11 lakes inthe woods. One brood of yoxmg ktullaras a week old was seen aud a female with young hidden in the grass observed in another locality. Besides these there were a few stanmering drake dallaras that probably had bred else- where. Twenty-six of these oame in one evening to a small lake at my second oamp I estimated that there were about 50 on the mosa in all. In addi- tion two male Blue-winged add one male biunamou Teal were seen on Long Lake. The ilallards wozw nearly all in eclipse pliuouge but the Teal had not yet molted. Besides these ducks I found two pairs of Coots on Long Lake, £5 x>air8 on Be-e-Khet-hum-nas and 10 ^lalrs on Blaok Ledce* In addition there were 40 pairs of Kared Grebes on Be-e-Iihet-hunj-aes aiid 20 jjairs od Black Lake. Three breeding pairs of Kllldeer were enoouutered. Ho other water of marsh birds were seen. The lack of bi'eeding biacxbirdu was oopocialiy notice- able and is to be attributed perhaps to the scanty cover. - 6 - AvJUAMtt VEQL^ATIOM AKD iXJCX fOOSS , A marsh grass that grew In all save some of the smaller lakes (#540) was the moat ahundant uf the water plants* In shallow water this formed rather a straggling growth. Where not eaten down too olosely it foztoed a growth two feet or two and one half feet high, and in deeper water made floating bogs. (This may be a species of Punioularia ). The fruiting heads produced many seeds that may have some ij#portanoe as duok food but this grass should be of more value as a cover plant if it were not eaten down to such an extent by grazing horses. At Be-e-lchet-hum-nez and at Blaoh Lake were areas grown with a round- stemmed tule ( Joirpus occidentalis ). This seemed « rather stunted and had small seed heads many of whioh seemed sterile. This was the only doirpus noted. It was observed that the black Thrips foiuid al- most universally in finiiting heads of this and ualudosus at lower levels was absent in the plants on those mountains. A large and a smidl species of Eleocharis were abundant at all of the lakes. The small species formed a car- pet in the beds of all of the drying lakes and grew in abundance about the borders of the lakes containing water. A broad-leaved Pondweed ( po tamo ge ten netans? ) was oonmon in the lar- ger lakes filling the open water and frowing in among the other aquatic vegetation. With it was a Mar row- leaved Pondweed (of the Potamogeton pectimatus type) that was fairly oomaon. These two species were most abundant in the three large lakes but were found also in the smaller ones. A smartweed (Persloaria #646) was common llicewise growing in the deeper water. This plant apparently would produce a oonaiderable coop of seeds* Another plant with a yellow flower with many Bubmerged sporooarps (f543t544«b48 ) was common in all of the lakes. All of these are valuable as duck foods* As is readily -7- seen, the Tarlsty of vogotablo foods here Is sm&ll though the species present are found in abundance. It is probable that other speolos of iioportanoe fomerly grew on the lake shores but tiiat they have been Killed out by graa- ing stock. There wore many snails (see specimens] in the lakes and the usual foBDs of animal and iiisoct lifo were abundant. Obuervatlon revealed noth-. Ing of eopeoial intorost in these howovor. GhliEKAL DlSOUSSlOh . The small number of breeding duoks found in this Chusoa itountaln lake area was disappointing but as has been pointed out conditions were highly unfavorable for them. It was sddd that a good manj' duoks were present here in fall during the migration and this is probably time. Pood would be fairly abundant then and the birds are not hunted as the Ravajos do not kill birds and White men do not enter this region save at long intervals so that hunting is practically unknown. What few ducks 1 saw were very tame and per- mitted a close approach. A small nxunber of drakes that have bred elsewhere •- ;> come in hore for summer, and females and young probably Join them later. There is not much available cbver however so that the niunber of ducks that undergo the mole here cannot be very large. 1 saw very few signs of natural enemies and only occasionally were coyotes heard howling. It is probable however, that ooyotes are more com- mon than this would indicate, but that at this season they are dopind in the canyons bordering the toesa. as the Havojo herders complained of losses a- mong their sheep. The forest all over the top of the is entirely o- pen and devoid of undergrowth of any kind so thi.t there is little or no cover, dhottld food he abundant about the lakes, however, coyotes and other - 8 - predatory auitaals would doubtless be attracted there. Any attempt at increasing the breeding waterfowl here would of necessity concern itself with enclosing certain areas in a stock prodf fence. For this purpose bodies of permanent water would be chosen, and of these the large lake known as Be-e-lche t-hum-uaz has the best facilities and attr:.otions for breeding birds. To fence this would require between three and five miles of sheep proof fence and in addition a guard (probably a Sava jo Indian) './ould have to be stationed there to keep the fence in repair and to watch for tresi)aB8er8. It is not thou^t that the increase in breeding birds would be sufficient to warrant the expense necessary for such a pro- ject, as there is nothing to indicate that a considerable nurabor of ducks would nest here provided conditions were more favorable. In studying conditions at these lakes I was interested in noting that thoid^ horses dally were wading and feeding in them that 1 saw no in- dication that they had disturbed any nests. The damage done lay in the keeping down of the marsh vegetation. At Be-o-kho t-hum-ne a forty nests of the £ardd Qreve were placed in one colony and a number of Ooots'nests were scattered about at random. X saw as many us sixty horses gn.sing In this lake at one time standing in water up to their bodies but on ouireful ex- amination I did not find a single nest that had been overturned or injured, though horsetracks led all through the nesting areas* The birds moreover seem to pay little attention to these feeding aninuils though aleet at onoe when a human entered the water. Waterdogs ( Aaby stoma sp. ) were seoh Long Lake and probably occur in all of the large lakes. Frogs (Kana pinions ) were common and in some places attained a large size. I saw many tadpoles in the lakes. These animals should thrive as at this season they had no bird enemies and need -9- only guard agaiziat the attacicb of emucee which were fairly consnou* On June 27 opportunity was taken to examine Bed Lake^ lying below Balgaiohi Peak near the foot of the Chusca iloun tains at an elevation of about 70C0 feet* The lake at this time was low as ths season has been very dry* It was estiaiated that it covered ^00 acres while in high water the area would be at least twice as great* A dam had been thrown across the lower end so that water isight be drown ohf for irrigation* The lake is shallow but vex*y muddy and bogg^u The shore line all around was bare and devoid of vegetation as sheep are grazed here* Growing in the water out from shore were clumps of bauonet grass of the :>oirpus paludosus type* I was un- able to get out to these to collect specimens* The lake water waw thick with sediment and quite alkaline* A smartweed of the same species as that secured ♦ at Lake Burford was fairly comnon but 1 found no other aquatic vegetation* The water was swarming with Coriwids* One pair of tfallardSf one of green- winged Teal and one of Red-winged Blackbirds were the only marsh birds noted* 1 was hsre overnight on >qy first visit* On nyy return no duoxs at all were seen* A frog riomri. oioiens l was fAirly oosmon here and Toads ( Bufo s p*) were heard oalling at night* Two small pans of water* one known as 3ampson*s Lake* lying between Oallyp and RooJc springs were examined on June 26 but no signs of duoXs or other marsh birds were seen* The shores of these lakes were entirely bare and there was no aifuatio vegetation* 1 was told thiit duoics oama to these In fall and that they were hunted by sportsmen from Gallup* QONQLUaiQN . In examining the Lake area of the Chusoa fountains it was found that there were about SO lakes containing permanent water* three of which were of fair size* In addition there were about 40 others of mediiam size and a - 10 > considerable number of smaller ones that would be filled during the rainy season. All lay along the lowereend of a high mesa at an altitude of 8800 feet. A considerable number of horses, cattle, and sheep are grazed hero by the Navajo Indians and these have eaten the available range to the ground. Tha shoro line of the lalces is devoid of herbaceous cover and in addition bends of horses wade in the lakes, which range from 18 inches to 4 feet deep, to feed on the marsh begetation. This has destroyed a major part of the pro- teotieh cover. Ten pairs of liallards, one each of Blue-winged Teal and Kud- dy Duck, 60 of Eared Grebes, 37 of Coots and 3 of Killdeer made up the marsh bird population of the region at this time with the addition of a small num- ber of suoBiering male llallards and Teal. A marsh grass and a tule (iJoirpus ocolden tails ) made up the cover in the lakes while two species of ’’ondweed, a ;dn>artweed,auother aquatic plant and two kinds of wiregrass ( Eleooharis ) furnished material for duck food. * There is no hunting here at any season so that the small number of breeding water birds must be due to the destruction of cover and disturbance by grazing stock. It would be feasible to fence the large lake known as Be-e-l&et-huffl-nez and ^irovide a safe breeding place but this plan is consider- ed of doubtful value. Natural enemies do not seem coomon though it is x)robable that coyotes were moreabundant than was apparent during the period of this bried examination. Ex a m in ation was made of Hed Lake lying at 7000 feet near the base of the Chusoa fountains. The shores of this lake were barren from the grazing of sheep and the water was muddy and ba^;. ^ bayonet grass nnd a stoartweed grew in the water and Corixids were present in abundance. Conditions were unfavorable for water birds and one x>air each of Uallard, Green-winged Teal and Red-wingsd Blackbirds were the only Marsh birds noted. Two small lakoB between Gellup and Hook oprings had no marsh birds on them and were devoid of all aquatic vegetation. Annotated List of Birds. 1* Colymbus nigrloollls callfomicus (Heermann). £ared Qrebe. Forty pairs of Lared (rrebes were nesting on Be-e-khet-hum-ues where they were first seen on June and on July 2 about twenty breeding pairs s were noted on To-teh-khlh. On July 1 the colony at the first named lake - was examined and the nests found grouped In a growth of Jolmus occidental Is with from twenty to forty feet separating them* In the water between them was a good growth of pondweeds and of u polygonum. Tljese nosta were the usiial rounded masses of decaying vegetation built up two Inches above the water with a slight hollow on top to contain the eggs. About one third still oontalned • I % eggs, from two th three constituting a complete set. dome liad been ]^rtly 'r covered by aquatic vegetation drawn up by the incubating birds before leaving while others remain od in the opon with no attempted couoeulment. All were nearly ready to hatch. The shells of these eggs were much stained from the rotting vogstutlun on '.'dxloh they lay. Apparently the young leave the nest as soon as tho;^' are hatched as I sow broken egg-shells In which the membranes ware not yet dzy but the young chicks were no where to be seen. Adult Grebes swam out ahead of me through :|the water plants diving' wlisn I came too near but not seeming greatly alarmed. Often the adults were acoon^auled by yoimg 10 or 12 days old who swam close 7 " behind almost touching the body of the grown bizti or climbed up ffii its back to be held beneath the wings while the old bird swam away. Adults were seen feeding these birds calling them up across the water and placing the food in the bills of the young. | The young dove when I cam too near but 1 was able -12 to follow them by the movement of the Wbter pl&nts that ehy agitated in passing throu£^ them* They swam rapidly with powerful strokes of their large feet and made as rapid progress through the water as 1 could in wading* When they I oojme up and discovered that they were being followed they dove again hut this ti/ae remained motionless oonoealed under the dense growths of aquatic plants* Several times 1 was deceived by this and passes on scanning the water for some tell tale' ripple that mifi^t betray the presence of the swimming bird beneath. Finally as one dove 1 stood quiet watchirig and after fully a mfcnuto happening bo loolc down saw a large foot i^rojecting from a mass of poudweeds a foot be- low the surface. I seized this hird at once freeing it from the entwining plant growth which it brou^t up with it and it lay in mj' hand bx^athing heavily after its long submersion and occasionally peeking feebly at tqy fingers. On top of its head on the crown was a bare wrinkled space of thiok- ened reddish skin. 1 tried to capture others but had only a limited time at dehyde ) my disposal and was unsuccessful. (specimen, in formal- 2. PeleoanuB orythrorhynchos Qmolin. American )^illliite I?elioan. The anterior end of the 8te3mvua of one of those Policans was pioked upat Ked Lake on June 27. 3. Anas olatyrhynohos Linnaeus. Mallard. The Mallard was the most common duck found in this region. It was estimated that about ten pairs were nesting on the high mesa while one pair noted on Red Lkke at the foot of the moantaine may possiblpy have been breed- ing. A part of the breeding birds of ths higher la .£0 area were found on the thiee larger lakes, while the others wore distributed among the smalllakes of permanent water that were hidden in the forests of Yellow pine, one pair to a lalca* A female seen on Be-e^l^et-hisD-nes on July 1 probably had young hid* den in the grass. On July 2 1 found a brood of twelre about a weeic old on a shallow^ pond west of oaiqp. ?he female was much excited and quacked and dashed V about in the water while the young fled for safety into the vegotation in the center of the lake. The old bird finally oaise out on shore and ran about fly- ing a few feet and falling back, and even running with dragging wings up into the woods among the pines and aspens. Uales were seen at all of the large lakes and oooasionally on the small- er ones. One flock of' eleven frequented Be-e-khet-hum-uez v.hile on July 1 twenty-six oame in to a small lake belwo oanq)« the largest flock seen. A part of the mules seen were in full eclipse while on June 28 1 saw one or two on > Long Laice still in full plumage. Three paitrs were observed on June 28 and one on Jxme 29. All other females observed were alone. These ducxs were ccHnpara- tively tame as they are not hunted here at all. They were seen occasionally passing over the trees from one lake to another. e 4. Settion parol inense (Cknerlin) * Oreen-winged Toal* A pair was seen on Ked Lake at the foot of the mountains on the morning of June 27. There was no indication of their breeding other than their presence here at this season. 5. vueruuedula di soars (Limaeus) ► ' • Slue-winged Teal. 4 A pair of these teail end two single draxes were observed on Long Lake at an altitude of 8800 feet on June 28. The pukt was observed again on July 1 and from their actions 1 thought it probable tliat they were breeding. They ^®re Very tame. -14- 6. uoerauedula oyanoptera (Vlelllot)* Clnnaraon Teal4 A single male v'us observed on Long Lake on June 26 taid again on June 29. 7. Lrlamatura jamaioensls (Uioelin) Buddy Buck. A pair of Buddy Bucks nas found on Be-e-tdie t-hua-ne a on July 1, swim- ming about in open water, with the male displaying constantly. 1 supposed that they were breeding here tho^lgh careful search in the tules failed to reveal a nest. 6. Kulioa amerioana Qmelin. American Ooot. Two pairs of coots were observed on Long Lake on July 1 and I estimated that twenty-five pairs were breeding on Be-e-khet-hxun-nes. Several nests were found here, concealed in growths of acimus occidental is and built up 6 or 6 inches above the water. A part were empty and had in part at least given forth young. Two nests containing 6 eggs were observed and one each with 10 and 11; In two of these the eggs were hatching. Ten pairs of Coots were found on To- Teh-<Chih on July 2. All these localities are at an altitude of 8600 feet. r I 9. Totanus melanoleucus (Qmelin) Creator Yellowlegs. At Bed Lake, near the base of the mountains, one came oirclitig in on V » the evening of Jime 26 and then jtassed.on. 10. Qxyeoh us voci ferns vociferus (Limaeus) v t Killleer. - k ^ ' ' A breeding pair was observed at Be-e-khet-hum-nes on June 29, and ■ T/ 1 -16- again on July 1 and 2. Another pair was f0und a shcart distance south and a third at To-teii-khih on July Z. All of these were nesting at an altitude of 6800 feet* 11* Zenaidura macrouru my.rffin»n;L (Woouhouse)* Western iloumlng Dove, This dove' was .common aroiuid the base of the Chusca mo;mtain8 and was observed at Crystal* h* ii* on July 3* On the stmunit of the mesa a few were observed on June 28 and 30* Others were seen on June 28 in Oottonwood pass* 12* Cathartes aura septenbrionalis Wied* Turkey Vulture* One was seen near Bed Lake on June 26 end another below the Sonsala Buttes on June 27* Single indivld^lal8 were observed at 9000 feet above the mesa of the Chusoa Uountains on Jxine 28 and 29 and July 1 and 2* 0 13. Aociniter velox (Wilson) Sharp- skinned Hawk* One was obsexnred among among Yellow Pines at the lower end of the mesa at an altitude of 9000 feet on July 2* A male sparrowhawk kept swooping at this bird as it circled around and each time as the sparrowhawk oame past the sharp-skin extended its long legs as though to turn and seize itl 14* Buteo borealis oalurus (Cassin)* Western Bed-tail* An adult was seen in Cottonwood Pass at 8000 feet on June 28* 15. Bureo swttinsoni Bonai/arte* \ Swainson's Hawk* One was seen on JXme 26 at the Divide 20 miles northwest of Gallup* H. U« -16- . 16. Falco noxlconus Schftocel. Pralrla Falcon. One WU8 observed 4 uiles west of Gallup on July 5. 17. Paloo colmnb&rlus Linnaeus. Pl^on Haw^. 5?w were observed at Red Lake on the morning of June <i7. 18. Oerohnels sparveria pbalvena. Desert Sparrowhawk. This small falcon was seen near Red Lake on June L6« where one stooped gracefully at a lizard zunnlng along the groun^ and near Crystal, N. U. , on June 27. On the high mesa it was fafrly common at 8600 feet and v/us observed dally. The Uounttiin and Cxieetnut-backed Bluebirds seemed much perturbed when- ever this hawk appeared, and perhaps with reason, as on June 29 I saw a spar- row hawk with an immature Bluebird in its talons, as was shown by feather s that came floating down to me. On July 2 a male was seen darting vt h. tiiuirp- skinned Hawk that was soaring in short oiroles above the forest. 19. Bubo virg in ianas oallescens Btone. Western Homed Owl. Great Horned Owls were heard hooting from the sandstone cliffs above f ■ . . Red Lake during the night of J\me 26. and one was heard near Orystal, N. il. . after dark on June 27. This owl apparently did not ocour on the high mesa of the ChuBoa Uou^i tains. 20. Dryobates villosus Hairy Woodpecker -17- Thie woodpeokar was fairly oomoon on the high mesa of the Chuaoa Uountalns at 6800 and 9000 feet where it was found among the Yellow Pines and ijuaicing Aspens. It was ohsorred daily ditring worJc here. On July Z two nests containing well-grown young were observed In Cottonwood I^us. Both were placed in dead aspens and were about thirty feet from the ground. ?he ddalt bii'ds were very wary and would not oome near while X was in the nei^borhood. 21. Plooides amerioanus dorsalis Baird. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker. Tlxis species was fairly ootnuon among the Yellow-pines and Bouglau Firs on the high mesa of the Chusoa Uoimtains and was evidently breeding. On June 70 a male was found resting on dead limbs in the Yellow Pines and drum- ming at Intervals. The drum resembled taqnir ; taupr taney tanoy tr-r-r-r-r . being made up of four double notes and then a short roll. In a way it was like that of the Williamson's supsuoker given in reverse order. The bird fre- quently varied the tone by changing position on his sounding board. Others were observed feeding among the yellow pines on July 2. All worked eteddily a- way hammering at the tree trunks with strong, vigorous steady strokes like those of the hairy Woodpecker. 1 saw many signs of their work on the tree- trunks through here. They drill strai^t deep holeuiu bark and dead tree trunks sinking them in as though with a chisel.. The birds themselves looked much like rather email, somewhat dull colored Hairy Woodpeckers and had many of the mannerisms of that bird. All were silent save for thoir tapping. (iipooimens) 22»- Suto^raniouB varlus nuohttllB Baird. Hed-naped dnpsuoker. These birds were soon in Cottonwood Pass up to 6000 feet. On Jxme 26 a pair were feeding well grown young in a hole drilled in a liv’ir.g quaking -18- aapen near the stusait nf the pass. On July 3 another nest ims found in a dead aspen somewhat lower down. A large opening below this nest loolced as though it might contain an owl or sotoetMAgg else of interest. IVhen I hammered on the trunk with a stick the adult sapsuckers were much excited and came flying down to perch near me, with crests raised, calling excitedly. 23. 3phyrapicus thyroideus (Cass in). Williamson's 3apsucker. This Woodpecker was fairly connon in the forested area on the mesa form- ing the S'uimait of the Ohusoa Uountai ns. A female was observed feeding young out of the nest on June 30 and a i>air had wdll-grown young in a hole drilled in a living aspen at oamp near Be-e-khet-hom-nez on July 2. Both male and fe- male worked steadily carrying food to these all day long, ceasing only during showers of rain that fell at intervals. A sooond nest oontnAnlni; young Nearly fledged was found in a dead aspen in Oottonwood ^ss at an altitiide of 7600 feet on July 3. 4 Adult birds were seen dally. The males had a loud rattling note like heh-h-h-h that gave tauch the same effect as a stick drawn rapidly across a hard corrugated surface. The druiomlng of this woodpeokor resembles that of Sphyrapious varius; it begins with a short roll whloh is followed by a double tap and then a single one and may be represented as tr-r-r-r-r- tan- tap- tap . 21. flalanosphyra fomloivora aouleata (ideams) Arizona Anr-eatiiig Woodpecker. There were seen on a fence near a Navajo hogan above Crystal on July 3. Oakd are abundant here and the region is well suited to these birds. < -19- 25* Asyndabams lewisi Riley* Lewis's Woodpeoicar* fairly oousQon lu open, forest on the sucaait of the Chusca Uouutaius* These birds were found in rolling country v’heru dead trees and stuiui>s offered them oonvonlent perches. Une seen in pursuit of a grcsshopper on the ground seemed uacldedly uwicvaird. An adult coale taken on Juno ZO had the central ap- o teriou of the breast denuded of down and tlr skin of this region v»s dry, t thickened and wrinkled so that it had evidently been assisting in incubation. Single inaividuuls were observed neat.Orj'stal on July S and 4* 26. Jolaotds cafr oollaria (Ylkors) hed-shafted yiioker. ""A 'qt. /vti- The Fllox.er was fairly oomuon in forested areas from the trading i^ost at Crystal to the suuoiit of the Chasoa Uountains. 27 . Ghorteiles virKlnianus Highthawk. The liightliawK was farily common in this region* Individuals were observed in Callup on June 25 and July 5, at Bod Isuce, ti. ii. June 26 and Crystal June 27* The birds were heard or seen at intervals in the Chuscu fountains from June 28 to July S* 28* Adronautes melanoleuous (fialrd) Vihite- throated Swift* This Swift was sc^ about the Sandstone Cliffs above Red Lake^^^ June 27 »T»d ^9 and July 3* Others were observed at the southern base of the mountains near the peot^^a^ rock formation known as tho Haystacks « on the eve.aing of July 4* - 20 - 3elasph.rus platycercue (SwHinBon) Broad-tteilod Il'uffimj.ut'binl. 'iJMs Hajfltaer r.a,A fiArly coarnoii in the' CShnacn JountalnB and l haard or saw the birds dully. Ooowus soon near Red Wee on June 26 and one at Orystal on Juno 27. A fojaalo was ahot on the hit^h wesa on ,h»ne 30 and on July 3 trie birds wero coemon in Cottonwood Pass. Oassin's iClnffbtrd. I This Klyoatcher was observed near the trading post at Oryetal on June 27 fnd July 2 and 4. 31. bayomis dayus (Bonaparte) day's Phoebe. The day's Phoebe was seeen at the store at Crystal, H. U. , on June 27 and the following morning one awakened me at daybreak by calling loudly persistently from a perch on a doad limb a few feet above ny head. A nest found here on a ledge abwe a door in an outbuilding, contained 6 eggs. These A ■' had not yet hatched when i examined the nest again on the morning of July 4 , One' of these phoebos wns observed near t.he Haystaoke, inside, the New Jlexloan line on the evening of July 4. 32. nnttallomls borealis (Owqinson) •• Olive-sided Flycatcher. Single birds were heard calling in Cottonwood Pass, aboco Crystal on Juno 26 and July 3. D 30 • Tyr^innus voclfenins Swulnson. 4 - 21 - 5Z. LLvioc>>aii(j s rlch&rdaoiti rloh>-.rdBoni (iJwt iasou) WeJtor;i ibood >?eewed« This flycatcher was fairly comrion aiaong aspona ia the Ohusca Uoun- talns from Juno 29 to July 3. One was seen near Crystal on June 27. 34. I’-inpldonax dlfflcilia dlffloilla . Baird. VMatom Flyotitchar . • I This flycatcher was obswrYod first on the auiarait of the Clmsca luount^iitis on June 29 and on the following day specimena wore collected. The birds wore fairlj' oonanon in aspen groves but were retiring and dif- ficult to observe. The complete song of the mules resembled the syl- lables swee-ee swee-ee chioic tr-r-r-r-r- given mther slowly. The or- dinary call note is swoe-oe. (Bpeciiiion) J®. Otooaris alpestris . Uomecl lurk. Homed Larks were fa±rly comtnonon the open flats at the base of the Chubcu llouatains. loung just from the nest were observed south of the Sousala Buttes on June 27. !S> . Cytmool tta stellert diadofnatu (Bonaparte) Long-crested Jay. ♦ Thise jays were coaeoon In the forested areas on the sumnit of the i Chuscu ilountains. Indifltlduals were observed fretiuently about my camps and many were encountered in passing throu^ the aspen groves. On Jiine 30 by siiuoakiug for a few minutes in one grove 1 called fifteen or twenty who ..parched above my liaad boldly, scolding, and peering down at me* % One came flying over with an a8x>an lauf In its hill and proceeded to shake this about « haninered it on a limb and linail^ dropped it* All of these birds were molting at this tizae* Joall parties ofteii oame dov)i and jabbered at whb while 1 was colleotlug insoots or wording over other specimenb. 27. Corruii sinu^^tus (Warier) jbxzcrican Kavuu. Havens were nesting on tlie sandstone cliffs bolov/ iiaigaichi Poziic at Ked I^uco on Simo 27 and as we were brea'xlijg cuiap in t)io morning the 4 harah voicod calls of the young birds wyre heurd On tJio uuOToit of tiie Chaaoa Jount&lns Kavens were oummon. One Juaa aaverbi * lies of young ■nor© obaarved feeding on thd ground in broii.a op«n iaountnln meadows* In one oj^aning four of these groups were counted i»ud on one oo oasion wlien I oame upon several ravens resting near noon In somo pines and shot an adult female as she flew out I had 40 havens circling above me at one time* The young birds feeding on the ground were deliberate in their actions w&lflng slowly and stopping for considerable intorvale to Ihok about. Occasionally one ran or hopped for a few stei?s after some escaping Insect but otherwise Uiey were very quiet* hticks and oovehipe v/ere turned ovor with their bills in their search for food* The notes of the young showed some variation from the usual uaws aiid croaks of their parents* lUpeciman) 38* Kucifraga columblana (Wilson) Clarice’s nutcracker* This fine bird was fairly common among the fellow Pines on the summit of the Shusoa Uountains but was so shy that it was difficult to They delisted in perching in the tops of tall dead pines find them. -23- Imt when approached slipped around and hid among the dead limbs. When first seen they were usually noisy but beoame silent at onoe only to burst out ivith loud notes as they flew away. They seemed in part to be still in 40. Agelaius phoenioeus Redwing. A single male was singing from a pile of stones on a small island in Bed Lake on the evening of Jxane 26 and oooupied the same post as we broke oamp the following morning. 41. atuntella negleo ta negleeta ( Audubon) Western Ueadowlark. On* was singing in a field near the trading store at Crystal on July 4. 42. Kuohagus oyanooenhalus (Wagler) Brewer* 8 Blackbird. Several seen near Ciystal on June 28. 43. Passer domestious (Limaeus) House isparrow. ing store of Crystal. It was strange to find them here as this post is 25 miles from Fort Defiance* Arisona and 60 miles from Gallup* X. M. , while the intervening country is only s^^rsely inhabited by Indians living in small hogans. family groups. (Specimens ) 39. Cvanooenhalus oyanooephalus (Wied) Piny on Jay. A few were observed among the p&gyons near Orystal on July 3 and 4. V 44. Oarnodaous megloanus frontalla (Bay.) House Finoh. ,!ieTeral were Been at Hed ^<aice on June 26 and 27 and others were ob- served at Czystal on July 3 and 4. One was foxand near the Haystacks, a peculiar formation In sandstone rook on the New ^lexicon line east of Per t Defiance, Arizona, on July 4. ♦ 46. Loxia curvtroatra Crossbill. Several were observed in the Ghusca fountains at 9000vfeet on June 29 and others were seen on July 3. On the latter date a few were found at a lower altitude in Cottonwood pass. * > * 46. Spinus olnus pinus (Wilson) Pine Siskin. V * The Pine Siskin was seen daily among the Yellow Pines in the Chusoa Mountains but was far from ooranon. One was found at Crystal on July 4. 47. Pooecetes graminens oonfinia Baird. Western Vesper Sparrow. « This finoh was fairly connon in the open country at the base of the Chusca Mountains and came up as far as the oijen area at Crystal where in- dividuals were observed on June 28 and July 3. 48. Chondestes gramaaous strigatus (Swainson) a Western Lark Sparrow. A few were seen below Red Lake on June 26. 26- 49. Splaiella pasaarlna ari zonae Cones. Western Chipping Sparrow. *0° This' bird was seen aisong pinyons near Hed -Make on Jiine 27 and July 4 and others were found at Crystal on July 4. In the Chusoa Mountains they were fairly oonmon between 8800 and 9000 feet. 60. bpisella brewerl Cassin. Brewofs Sparrow. The Brewers Sparrow was found at Red Lake June 27 and was noted belww Ci^stal on July 4. 61. Junoo dorsalis (Henry) Red-backed Junoo. The Bed— backed Junoo was oosnon in the Quaking aspen groves on the suni- fflit of .the Chusoa Uountains and ranged down in the heads of the canyons along the ria of the higher mesa. The song of the males was the customary Junco I trill 6nd the oallnotes resembled those of others of the genus that are more A. Widely spread and better known. A nest found on June 30 was placed in a r » little hollow xmder a small bush onthe side of a gully and was not concealed '!*■ ' ; at all ub ,1 saw the eggs insnediately when the female was flushed. This nest :i i wa$ a well formed cup of fine grasses and weed stems, lined softly with horse I f and cow hair. It contained four eggs, dead white in color, well speckled with '! V light Oddish brown. These birds were all nesting at this time and scolded me Oonsthntly as I passes through their haunts. (Hpeoimens) ■62, Pipilo BiaoulatUB 'i-7' /'.I ' i ' Mountain .Towhee. These birds were tfbund in Cottonwood Pass and near Crystal on June i ' 'p \ V. V ^ 3 ' ■ -E6- A - 28 and July 3* 53* Zamelodla melanoaphala (v^inson) Uingle birds were found in aspen groves In the Chusoa mountains on '54. Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson) V Western Tanager. One was found on June 29 at 9000 feet in the Chusoa iiountains and another 56. Pe troche lidon lunifrons liinifrons (Uay. ) Cliff Swallow. Several were seen at Ked halce at the base of the Chusoa Uountains on 56. Taohyp ino ta thalassina leoidn Ueams. Horthem 7ioley>green Swallow. This swallow was fairly common in theYellow Pines on the Chusoa Uoun- tains and was seen dally. At Crystal on the morning of June 28 these sv{al- lows were abroad earlier than any other birds and were dalling and flying as soon as there was a hint of light in the east. ” 57. Lanins ludoviclanus eacoubi tori das (Ittrainson) • * * . ^ Whl te-rufflp4dd Jhrilce. QtU was observed near the southern base of the Chusoa mountains near V June 28 and 29. One was singing in Cottonwood Pass. on July 3. V. <1 on July 2. One was seen in Cottonwood Pass on July 3. Jxme 27 the Hays tacks on June 26 -£7- 56. Yireo^^lsa gllva owalnsonl Western Warbling Yleeo. This Ylveo was fairly common among tho groves of Quaking aspens in the Chusoa ttlount^<in8 at an altitude of 9000feet* IW^les were singing on July?. 69. Lanivireo solltariud olumbeua Coues. Plumbeous Vireo. One was seen on July 2 on the summit of the Ghusca Uountains. Mother was singing in the Pinyons near Ked Lake on July 4. 60 • Dendroiott auduboni ( Townsend ) Audubon's Warbler. This Warbler was common among the Yellow Pines on the mesa of the Chusoa llountains. The males were singing constantly at this season and were found usually in the tops of the tallest trees whore they moved about in a slow and leisurely manner. Rains did not seem to daunt them as they contddnad to sing through the drlsssllng dovoipours that oame during the af- ternoons, thoggh other birds beoatoe siieiit. On July 2 I cuaie across a par- ty of siales working actively through the aspens south of 3e-e-kliet-hum-nez. ' These birds apparently were through breeding for this season. 61. Pro soon tee nontanus (Townsend) Sage Thrasher. On© was seen below the Sousalu Buttes west of Crystal ou J\me 27. 62, maus polyglottOB leuoopterus (Yigora) t / Western Mooklng-bird. I ■ A male was singing at Crystal on the morning of July 4. t • t I ; j wr ' • ^ » i^. W'- - ^1 /*A' •“<' > “ «-' •. V _ ■« " 'c v.*--l- ,r* ^ • . :, -■ ■■'• ;» oo ^ f ,' • o • C>I! 1 •« , , ‘ ^ _ I -J^ • ^ ‘•"c-' ys -28- 65 * Sal Pino te 8 obgoletus obseietas ( Say. ) ^ I % « ^ 0 e Rock Wren. A Hook Wren na& observed at Had Lake on Jvmo 27. 'Jki the suuiult of the Chusoo Mountains on was seen July 2 singing froo the topoiost limb of a tall d8£:d yellow pine. One was observect near the Haystacks on July 4. 0 ■ k Catherues a exicanus ooiispersus BidgAtiy. Canyon Wren . rr One WHS foimd near the Haystaoks at the southern boue of the Chusoa llountalns on July 4. ' - . 65. Troglodytes addon parkuani (Audubon ) Western House Wren. This Wren was fairly common among quaking Aspens 6n the sunnit of the Chusoa Mountains. •T — J 66. Certhia ihmiliaris montana Kidgwuy. Rooky :iountain Creeper. Oh Juno 50 one was seen in the head of the canyon below Tai-*hah-eese. 67. Hlttu oarolinensis nelsoni Hldfwray. M ■* Rooky MomitainRuthatoh. t This Huthatoh was fairly coomon in tlie Chusoa Iiloini tains. A few were lA » * A seen at Crystal on June 27. 68. Sitta oanadensls Linnaous. -Ar»l i V ^ _ Red-breasted Uuthatch. ...r- HeveRtl were seen In the canyon beHwiW Tsa-'hah-esse on June 50 The Birds were calling steadily. rm W4 -29 69. Sitta pygnaea pygaaea Vigors. Pygiqy EUthatoh. The I’ygny Nuthatch was fairly ootoraon among the Yellow Pinos on the suTunit of the Chusoa Uountalns. One morning one all^ted on a stub within two feet of my head. 70. Pen thee tea gambeli gambol i Ridgway. fountain ohic^dee. Gonaon in the Chusoa Uoun tains, adults were in such worn plumage that they were hardly recognizable in some cases, a brood of young just firom the nest was seen in the pinyons on the Divide 20 miles northwest of Gallup, on June 26. 71. Hylocichla guttata auduboni . Audubon's Hermit Thrush. The Hermit Thrush was fairly common in the Chusoa mountains and was heard singing frequently in morning and evening. The birds were seen oc- casionally in the canyons. 72. Planestious migratorius urouinauus Hidgway Western Robin. The Robin was fairly oomnon in the Chusoa Hountaina. A young bird just from the nest was seen July 1. deveral adult Robins were observed near Crystal on June 27. 73. dialia mexioana bairdi Ridgway. Chestnut-bached Bluebird. Fairly oonmon on the sunnlt of the Chusoa Uountalns. At Tsa'hah esse -30- & pair had young in a nest in a pine stub as late as July 1* 74. Slalla curruooides I iio\mtaln Bluebird. j' This® was probably the most abundant bird on the high mesa that formed the summit of the Chusoa Mountains and the birds were enoountereci constantly in I traveling through the open forest* 3y June 30 young birds were everywhere emearglng from the nests and the adults scolded roe oonstantly* These blue-* I birds remained active through the cold driszllng rains that were common here» ^ not seeming tomlnd them though most of the smaller speoles remained in shel«* / ■ t I > ter at ^uoh times. , I ► / / vil / 'r, ‘ V 7 i 1-1 f UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. O. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. AND REFER TO July 3, 1918« Dr. Alex V/etmore, Gallup, Kev/ liexico. T/etmore; Funds for July will be only one-tv/elftli oi last years, anci as the migratory bird fund was not part of the Deptirtment appropriation bill. reach Gallup again I hope your new letter and instructions will be on hand and you can proceed on your now work at once. tlie act It is necessary to switch you to Food Habits at once. '«hen you ^incex'eljf Asst'. Biologist Form BI-130 MdfXJh, 1918 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION No .nutf. Washington, D. c . , Jaly X9ia» Under authority contained in the Secretary's letter, No. 8 Sec., dated July 1, 1918, you are hereby authorized to incur such expenses. may he necessary, in strict accordance with law, the Fiscal Regulations of the Department, and the decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, for the purpose stated and during the period named helow, not to exceed Bureau of Biological Surrey, 1919," l|K>oA XaMLIl Of it»*« and SUMdS*) 9o parfon aaeaMniy tssrol* ao n o noln g lalj 1* 191d« in titalM of Sov Bnloot ArlflonHf Oalifonxla* Oregon* and iMhington* fo r t he purpose of seourlng Infomation of the relotiene of birds to orope* and of peioonlng esnpalgDS egoiast Injorloue BSasHils* leu ere farther eutkerlsed to hire tenpoiuy eesistaato (subjeot to the roloe of the ClTll SosTiee OOfsBieeion)* sad to pesr for their tseaepertation sad s«h» sieteawe ehlls in a travel statosi to hire spesisl aewis of oanvojrsaoe mien necessaryt to klro ssddlo horses sad paoJc sniaelsi to hire or porolniBO asoossarj oamp eqcdsnsati to parohsso field snpiaios and natursl history speelniensi to pay for nooossary repairs to your osn fireants* if doaagsd eblle being need offleially* as a eonsidaratlon for ^eir uaei aal to iasor each other expeasee as any fieiad aeoasstry la aarrylng out this taork* Gpon ooqplotion Of this vexk yon should return te iMSOiiagton* D» c.* your offteial etotlon* $ 600*00 to "be paid from the appropriation ’’General Expenses No expenses "for freight charges to be incurred hereunder. Your permanent headquarters will be P# 0# Chief of Bureau. ^ t m-ioR July, IDir*. jXo.. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION D ^VofildnMony D, C,. JOM M, 1918 , Acffilffteat . AloIosijBti 'I 74 »v« ' ■ •- \ f . • '■i , y . E 3 Tour luttor of autlwrlly To* 488-81* puyablo froa lAio apyroprlatiou **Oonoml ifiKpttoaoot Buroou of Biologloal Survoy* 1918«" (Proteetlon of Hlgrutor 7 Birds)* is horoby s i won d s d so as to Inoroeso tho aaount Uhich ' A majr bo oxpendod thsrsuador fzom i)800*00 to #880*00* tihs sdditional sen * of 4^*00 to bo. paid fron tbs appropriation ntnod aboro* •V» r.'3 cs. ♦ A I Tour perumiicnt hviuhfunrtvr.^ irllf J>e Atmoonri ^ ^ 1 ^. ‘ - I * iMnblnstoa* D* 0 * 1 :; Chki and Exeentiye Aaszsfant. 8—3473 ■ w*'. L' ' n j; k.al AOtiOff Chief Survey, !. -.i« *.'i ■ ^ f’ r ► * I ".'j.'r-' -"I * . * -I V ‘ s»| '•.^'■'.*■,43 • . 1 ^ ' ■ -/Vi y. M *5' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO June 26, 1918. Dr. Alex V/etraore Gal lup , N e\v Uexi c o . luy dear Wetmore: Most of the specimens mentioned in your letter of Juno 20 have been received, everything you mention in fact except the bird sicins. ■ She specimens have been cared for as you desire and all films sent and if you continue paclcing them as these were I think the results will be better on the whole than under the method used in previous years. It is proper to collect plant-lice in alcohol, but the Psyllids had better be sent dry like the other insects. A roll of cotton nas been sent to you at Gallup, and I v/ill put in a request today amending your letter of authority so us to make the amount available under it ^320. Such increases are made to date from the day they are requested. I will have to wait a few days before getting out your food habits letter. With best regards. to Mr. Kent for developing. The insects came tlirough in good shape Sincerely yours K Assistant Biologist. ■- - KETNER’S* i^HONE 52 . 'Gallup, N.M. Ntime^ A d dress Salesman U Total Por’d- r'' *9V« «••••«••• •••• M /: ...'N ■ • ••V'* (J:/^ ^ 4 ,A 4 ri/‘ ' -‘V ' ^ t .*•••« •«« r«« *« * • • ••••«••••« accownt sfjiteil.to clAtc. If error In foonil relurn at onco* Adams Crotbera Co„ TX'i.cku, Kuns;is, I — 4 > ^ KETNER 52 . .■j'l ' ' Gallup, N, A/.,..™ Nome A d dress Salestyian Total For*d U *• •«•••••#•«•* W- • •»«<••««•• m^rn /•r fw « ^fVlnW *4«* • / *^^****4« •▼•• • • 4*» A **.»«««****«4%*. * 494 j K F*«* k _dX t« fOMO*! r«*furii Your account Htotcrl to dtite. If error Adams Jirotbers Co., Toiiaka, Knn; -- KETNE t v%Ki g r w .“■ • /',"v GaH«t, N. M.i y_ . y< 7 » y Name A d dress m ~ P> Salesma^jf ^ t<v ■•*V "I }HM I 191 - Total Po'M n V**‘***if •• *• *• *»»*• . / 4 <'f ^ ^ - — * ■» , / / A\<> • A.4- Yftur account sfated to date. If ^ror fs fnii Adams JJrothers Co., T<'i>t*kH, 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOOICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO Jime 24, 1913 Dr. Alexander V/etmore, c/o Ivir. J. 3. Ligon, Box 131, Albuquerque, N. M. Dear Wetraore: Bequest for the renev/al of your present letter of authority has been turned in, and you may proceed on the assurance that your expenditures for the same kind of work after July 1 will be cared for. This letter is to be for $200 and- covers travel in the states of New Uexico and Arizona. « It seems that we may be put upon the monthly renewal system of appropriation again ir ‘ w fiscal year. I am delaying your food habits letter, because it is definitely known just which plan we will be working under it will be in5)Ossible to decide what funds in the hope that you may be able to make certain investigations for us in Klickitat Coimty, Washington, in the fall, the precise locations are Goodnoi£ Hills and Sundale. We have had several complaints of damage by crows in this region. The crops affected are apricots in September, and almonds in October. may be allotted. This letter will cover travel in Arizona, Oalifox'nia Oregon and Washington. I am extending the area to be covered. principally I am glad to learn from your last letter that you have obtained such interesting results, and£specially that your insect collecting is turning out so well. I have requested that the photographic film he sent you, and trust that it will be promj?tly received. Very truly yours. f / f June 12, 1918 Ur. E. 7/. Kelson, Chief, Bureau of Biological Survey, V/ashington, D. C. Dear Sir; I- This is in reply to your inquiry of the 5th instant, relative to the depredations of crosv? in Goodoe Hills and Sundale regions, Klickitat County in this state. About one year ago now, 1 visited this region in order to got an idea regarding the production of apricots and almonds there* I find that they have an acreage of about 1000 for the apricots and 600 for the almonds. The crop of 1916 was very good of the apricots, but that year the crowa devastated the entire almond crop as far as the soft-shelled « varieties go. These latter constitute the larger part of their planting. The hard-shelled varieties such as Drake, were not seriously inj-ured, but , 4 are used only for x>ollenizers and lack the value of the 1 X L, and the He Plus Ultra and other soft shelled varieties. At the time I was there, I su^estod that they might keep them away by poisoning or by shooting and the resident told me that they had tried both of these methods without apparent results. Very few people live in this region and it would be difficult for them to guard the acreage they have by means of shotguns or even the distribution of poisoning. •^e 1917 crop of apricots was badly injured by the crows at about the time they began to ripen. The crows then came from across the Colum- bia River, apparently from up the John Day River Valley and from a creek some four or five miles away on the ’.Vashington side of the Columbia. One of the growers there vnrote me tliat they would settle down almost by the millions in his orchards and very quickly take a bite or two from each of the apricots on the trees as they ripened. They managed to save a part of the apricots, but a- little later when the soft-shelled almonds began to ripen, they were destroyed before they were ready to harvest, resulting in total loss of that crop. This destruction to the almonds probably takes place during the month of October, wliereas the apricots are injured some- v/hat earlier, probably in September. After talking with your Br. Taylor, 1 communicated these facts to Mr. Tlieodore Scheffer of Puyallup, Washington, and suggested that he take up with the department, some work along this line. It appears that the Station here has not done any work to help these people further than to send them suggestions regarding poisoning or shooting the crows. I wish to thank you for the bulletin that you sent, relative to this pest and to assure you that if I can be of any assistance in the help you may be able to afford these people, I will be very glad to be called upon. Yours very truly, K. J. Barnett. A tnie copy . Eaorajnent o, California. June 10, 1910. Chief, Bureau of Biological Survey, V/ashington, D. C. Sir: The prospect for a large hatching of sprig and mallards in this j portion of California is very bright. The hatching season has been most favorable, their being absolutely no less of eggs by flood waters as has occurred many years. Ko doubt we will hear the same complaints of damage by ducks to » * * th.6 growing rice and I do not doubt that it will be talcen advuntege of by .1 : a few of the growers, fortunately a very few, and by the ’’sooners^ to open the season muoh earlier than usual under tha State and Federal Law* Also the war and hi^ cost of living, etc*, etc*, will bo used as an ex- cuse* Many ^ftio are not rice growers bp-t live in the towns adjacent to the rice fields are even now agitating and will, no doubt, appeal to Kr* hoover and others as a necessary measure* What little damage is done to growing rioe can be eliminated by the rice fanner* Sould representations come to the Department of Agriculture regarding the damage done to rice and the necessity of permitting the Icilling other than at the season se^, I would suggest that no change be made without the fullest investigation# It would be extremely dangerous to ciiange the season to an earlier date as nearly all the mallard and sprig in California are or will be within a radius of a very few miles adjacent to the rice fields. The birds are attracted there, as you mij^t Icnow, by the large number of insects, water UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. AND REFER TO June 6, 1918 Dr. Alex Wetmore^ EL Vado, ITev; Mexico. I My dear Wetmore: '£he Cornell man to whom v/e sent the bird parasites was in the office the other day and has made considerable progress in identifying these specimens. He is greatly interested in them and will work upon them.more tlian can. be said for any one else we have asked to assist us on this problem. I think it v/ould be well to encourage him by collecting additional material if you have the opportxmity. I know you are not as well equipped to do the work this sunnier as you were when in Utah, but possibly you may have an * opportunity to get something. He suggests that better methods of preserving the specimens are desirable and the formulas he recommends are the following: and for all sorts of roundworms a solution of: 70^ alcohol containing of glycerin, to be used hot if possible. He states that the best way of collecting specimens is to wash the contents of the alimentary troot into white lined tray and decant fc. all material possible, after which the parasi^ may be easily picked up from tho bottom. 10 parts 10 parts 1 part. ^ ’f’ ■- ■ a>i •’ - 2 - Tlie use of a microscope enables one to make a cleaner sweep in this respect, but I doubt whether it will be advisable to ship your microscope unless needed for some other purpose also. Trusting that your work is progressing satisfactorily, I am Sincerely yours, Cx/. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ' WASHINGTON, D. C. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO Ltey 28, 1918, Mr, Alex Wetmore, El Vado, K. Mex, Dear Mr. Wetmore; A forra-5 voucher in favor of Mr. K. L. Hall covering subsistence and supplies amounting to ^2.05 has just been received. I regret that you did not complete the voucher before forwarding, by giving the exact period covered by these supplies and information as to the number of persons subsisted, that is whether the supplies were used by yourself only, or were shared with an assistant. This information is necessary for us to know in auditing your' reimbursement account, and has to be shown for the purpose of cross-reference, on the form— 5 voucher, as well as in your reimbursement account when it is submitted. In this instance I have taken the liberty of asstuning that the supplies are r .■being used only "by yourself and, from information furnished by I<Ir# McAtee, that they are intended to cover the period of your stay at Stinking Lake, which he assures me will be until about the middle of June# I have, therefore, made the following notation on the voucher •’subsistence suj^plies in part for self for the period commencing Lay 23 and ending about June 15, 1910” • If above statement does not conform with the facts, it will be necessary for you to advise me promptly so that it may be corrected while the voaoher is still in the Department. ’.Then preparing your reimbursement account at the end of the month, you should, of course, make reference therein to the form-5 and show the period covered by the supplies, wMch should correspond with vdiat had been written on the form-5 voucher, if the facts prove to be correct. If you have occasion to submit further fona-5 vouchers covering subsistence supplies, please make sure that the period covered and the number of persons subsisted are always given. Very truly yours. S^n ?i*siJio is CO j Go*! • 9 May 27, 1S18« Mr. E. Y/. Kelson, Chief of Bureau, Bureau of Biological Survey,, V/ashington, D. C. V Dear Sir: V Yotir letter received asking us in regard to certain bombs which we have been using in frightening birds away from the rice fields. • v;e use what we call duck bombs. These eell for ^5.00 per dozen, f. 0. b. San Francisco. : V < ' ■ * ' v/e can refer you to the fish and game commission of California, « headquarters at Sacramento, in regard to tho satisfaction these bombs have been giving, as v/e received a letter a fev; days ago from Mr. Keale in which he says "If rice growers knev/ and understood that these bombs are effective for which they are intended, they would purchase them in large quantities." Hoping to receive your favors whic^ v/ill have our prompt atten- tion, wo remain. Very truly yours, EADCLIFF SALES COMPAIJY, R. E. Flack, Mgr. lorn UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C; ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO U&y 24, 1918. x)r. Alex. V/etmore, El Vado, Hev/ Mexico. j»iy dear Wetiaore; Your report on investigations at Ean antonio has been safely received and it is unfortuxiate tliat you wore unable to obtain better results from your visit to iir. Oampbell. Your manuscript on the dtructure of the i^lato in the Icteri- dae was approved for publication and the copy you left with me mailed to Dr. dtone. She Bureau library has been xmable to locate two cojjies of the Emu which are charged to you. I wonder whether you recall just what was done with these? The subject of bird bands came up since you left and upon look- ing for your stocA found one box of about 100, which would seem to be those immediately following those you used at Great halt Laxe. Will you need these this smnraer? If you will have use for them they will be sent at once. A personal letter will shortly follow tiiis. Very truly yours. Assistant Biologist. Bi-181 APR. *16. FUe No.j£^^ . Entered__^MS’. •>. ts \ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY PROPERTY PURCHASED. From ^ 4 -LUjf By (Aa/JL - At 1 Ja a Date purchased xAr ^ 3 ^ — — — — — — — — — — — — y\ni. « A Under L. A. No. * * 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii Quantity. Articles purchased. (Describe fully for purpose of identification.) Cost. j AiS. / lUrxMA h^juf _ - S/1. f- d^JolLiA - -6./1 - - f-i j oy (,c*AAy^ _ _ _ - _ — MJI — -t s Prepare in duplicate. See instructions on reverse side. (Signature) OiAfc- ( Title ) a • 1 n C» ’ INSTRUCTIONS. • _ ^ C. ft ' - ■ ' • • ♦ . I ^ £ — »-r-. ^ ~ M - m '^ ~ 7 -t . This form is to ba used for reporting the purchase of NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY only, and is to be furnished in addition to and independently of the delivery in- voice which accompanies Form 5 vouchers. By NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY is meant prop- erty of a permanent character or articles that are not soon worn out by use, the cost of which exceeds twenty-five cents. The object of this form is to enable the Bureau to keep an accurate and detailed record of all property ov;ned by it. j.he report should be made in duplicate and both copies forwarded to the Bureau, where the necessary entries on the inventory will be made. The duplicate copy with the file number and date of entry supplied will be returned to the purchaser for refer- ence in making annual report of property on hand. Bi- 181 - ,-»! '•n iTV APR. 16, r* ' Ffle , , Entered_.^^i(f^;{^^ r-^ X~~ C' ‘ ' . s UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY From At Quantity. j PROPERTY PURCHASED. By : Date purchased Under L. A. No.. AdliJM. 191 Articles purchased. (Describe fully for purpose of identification.) I certify that the above articles have been received by me in good condition. (Signature)^ l( P ^iv. ( Prepare in duplicate. See instructions on reverse side. Cost. ( Title ) 2 ^;*' * INSTRUCTIONS.- This form is to be used for reporting the purchase of NONEXPENDi\BLE PROPERTY only, and is to be furnished in addition to and independently of the delivery in- voice which accompanies Form. 5 vouchers. By NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY is meant prop- erty of a permanent character or articles that are not soon worn out by use, the cost of which exceeds twenty-five cents. The object of this form is to enable the Bureau to keep an accurate and detailed record of all property owned by it. The report should be made in duplicate and both copies forwarded to the Bureau, where the necessary entries on the inventory will be made. The duplicate copy with the file number and date of entry supplied v/ill be returned to the purchaser for refer- en’ce^'in making* annuaT 'reporf^of property on hand. . -- uV COPY V f" Willows, California, llay 14, 1918. Mr. E. Vi'. Kelson, Chief, Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir; X •» .* 1 ^^-* jfc r • I am in receipt of your letter of liay 7, inquiring for the • names of the makers of explosive bomts for protecting rice fields from duckr, the California Fireworks. Company, of 249 Front Sti*eet, San Francisco, California, have made a specialty of these bombs, which cost about fifty cents a piece. , This firm has done considerable ex- periment!^ and have succeeded in nakii:g a very good bomb. The bomb contains two charges and is shot from a small mortar, the first charge throws the bomb about two hundred feet in the air t where it explodes with a loud report and forms a small cloud of smoke. Vjhere these bombs are properly used they are bery successful in keeping the birds away from the rice. * Yours very truly. . t' 4 _ , JOJS .jar- ^ ‘ . ^ -v*' PACIFIC DICE GEOVffiRS' ASSH, (signed) Ernst E. Behr. Secretary. r> ■ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON, D. C; ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO Llay 14,- 1918. Ur. Alex. Wet.nore, Assistant Biologist, Bureau of Biological Burvey. Dear Ur. Y/etmore: In accordance with letter of authorization Ko. 437-Bi. you will proceed on or about Uay 18, 1918, to Can Antonio, Texas, for the pur- pose of investigating roosts that have been erected for bats near that city. You should get in touch with Dr. C. a. ii. Oarapbell of Can Antonio, who has been active in erecting these roosts, and secure as much infor- mation from him as possible. In addition you should visit the roosts, examine them, photograph them if possible, collect samT)les of guano, and if opportunity oi'fers, secure sixjcimens of the bat iiihabiting them, and gather any other information t^t may seem jpertinent. This vjot'k should require not more than one or two days. On completing tliis investigation you will continue, under letter of authorization Ko. 438-Bi., to Lake Burford (Stinking Xiake) in the Ji- carilla Indian resei’vation, Kew ilexico, 2 md there maice a detailed study of the v/aterfowl toid other Y)irds breeding at that lake, '^ou should as- certain the Bijecies found there, and the approximate numbers of breeding birds of each kind. In {iddition you should make note of any infonnation that will indicate the cover available for these birds as nesting sites, their food supplies, natural enemies, and other conditions affecting tliem. In carrying on this v;ork you will have many ox^x-'Ortunities for mak- — ing observations on the habits and life histories of these birds, and thus secure information of much value along these lines. ITote should be made of any possible methods that may seem of value for inci’easing the numbers of breeding waterfowl here. This woric will require thi’ee weoics or possibly more to complete. after making this examination of conditions at Lake Burford, you will proceed to some suitable ^loint from v/Mch to outfit for a trip through the Ohusca lloxmtains, wliich lie in northwestern New Mexi- co and northeastern Arizona. ”he mesa formed by this movintain range is said to have many small lakes scattered over its surface which are reputed to be favorable breeding grounds and resorts for considerable numbers of v^aterfowl, ^ survey of this lake country should be nude in order to determine species breeding there and the approximate numbers in wliich each occurs, j’he food supplies, eneruies, and general condi- tions under which those birds exist should be examined and studied. If the season is not too far advajiced when this work is complet- ed, it will be v/ell to carry on similar work in lake areas in the White fountains, and elsevdiere in Arizona. Stinxin^^ Luko it will bo well to collect a small series of breeding mallards to be preserved as specimens, txnd also to secure S;)e- ciraens of the species of black ducii of the iuius diazi type if these are encountered here* Other birds of interest should be collected v;hen possible, though care should be taken not to disturb unduly the breed- ing waterfowl. r j- In the course of the work outlined above you will have many oj;- portunities for collecting’ insects and other animals that will be of value in our reference collections. In addition you will be able to secure seeds of various p>lants that are now lacking in our series Every effort should be made to secure as much of this material as is X^ossible as the region in c^uestion is one that is x^ooi'ly rei)resented in our collections. Efirther instractions will be IXmiished you from time to tine. V.'ith best regards Verj,' truly yoxa’s. Chief of Bureau. 31 STATE OF ARIZONA, \ 55. Counfy of Maricopa, j G . M . W I L L A R D ^tto\o all ^en bg ^iiese 'presents, g r orl f ag lt a , Q^/ee^e ^^^atne ^rri*fZen Z/ie ^^/Ztzonft^ finzZy Z^e ^ictc^ey tzi zzie -izes/^eZ ^z€tz^ ^tz-uc ^i^tS ^ynuZetZ (znzZ cZ ■^eyeZ^ /teyt/izY Alexander Viietmore TjieuBureau of Biological S urvey To collect for that Bureau specimens of birds, their nests and e»ygs. and small mammals, in the state of Arizona, n<? <cnf/ <i// o^^oca/ acZi o^dacc/ G^ecccc/ ^^<e9t7>hiZ cctt^ ^7%ZcY/ec/ Zo ^zt/A a^ncA <ine</cZ. yicutnYY Z s 7toZ Yi^tx^S^itetA/e, <r*%</ ^<k^.^<5^«.Jlscember21, 1918, Wihttss '777.7^ Acct^cA <zncA Sect THE MC NEIL COMPANY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA Uay 10, 1916 Ur. J. Stoicley Ligon, J)OX 131« Albu^aer^ue, New Uexico. Pear Ur* Ligons In Pr. Fisher's absence , your letter of April 26 addressed to him* has been given to me for my infonaation* I am very glad indeed to have the notes on Ptinking Lake and the conditions there* and es- pecially the information regarding the Chama Hod and Oun Club. I expect to. leave Tfashington on the evening of iday lb* but have first to go into bouthem Texas* According to tlie itinerary 1 have arranged I should reach Chama* New Uexico* at noon on ilay 21 and hope to be able to oom;>lete arrangetaents so as to go to Stinking ^aake on the following day. It is possible* of coarse* that 1 shall be delayed for one day somewhere along the route* so that I may not reach Chama until the 22d* If your plans permit* 1 shall be more than pleased to see you at the lake and to talk with you regarding the work ee are to carry on there. From information that has been available 1 believe by arriving there be- fore Uay 25 I shall be in plenty of time to catch all of the breeding birds and* in addition* pezhape* to make notes on some of the later migrants. With best regards* 1 am Very truly yours* ? r ♦ , <n Assistant Biologist. Al-JBH 0 - K,* CLcjL C X)^. i^i^- \ J ■•( • Bl-120 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUWCAU OF BiOLOOICAt. SURVEY LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION No ASIAJL-. SashlngtOQ, D. C., BAjT 4 ^ 1918 « A iElfltaat aiolsgi»^» Under authority contained in tho 'locretary's letter, No» 8 Sec,, dated July 1, 1917, you are hereby authorised to inctir such expenses as may be necessary, in strict accordance with law, the Fiscal Regulations of the Department, and the decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, for the purpose stated and during ♦he period remed below, not to exceed ISOOeOO , to be paid from the appropriation "G-eneral Expenses, Bureau of Biological Survey, 1918.“ (ProtMtloa of Sirda*) gp ooe o d fTon 8 «b Aatoo&o* •anM* oa May IBlfty ov «s aotta tbaro* Aftor M pTMtloshle* to Qun&t liMr Ifoadoo* wad porfom aooosMxy txsnrol vlHiln tb# Statoo of lOo Xoadoo* fon»« OsloradOy asd Arlson&« for ^o yaxpoM of oooarliae lafoxnatlon on b r ooding OEtorfooi and othor ULrio* thoir food* on— >o»t and othar oonditi— a affaotlog th— * at Ib3b» BorfOrd (Stlakii^ La— )• and etnar le—a iu If— itezioo aui AXie— a* 10a aro fartbar — tborisod to biro to— wary aaalataata (aob^et to tho mloa of tho ClTii ^nrioo uoanloaioait «osl to fay for tholr traofportation and •Bhalat— 00 ahUo la a t—roX ototoai to biro apeeial —a of o on ro y— Oh— — oofiaryi to h^ —ddlo h— • sad paok ant— la | to hire or parelMO aoooiBtry oo^p ofal|—B t§ to porotaoe fiold ao^i^^oa and aataral hlatooy —p— 1— I to pay far —o— aoiy ropalro to your om ilroanuit dB—god nlillo haiag —od offiolalXyt m a a— aldoratl— for thalr naof and to lancr —oh othor o a yoao— — — y ho fo— d naooa— ry in oarlflBg out this noil:* No expense for freight charges to be incurred hereunder. a Your permanent headquarters will be h* 0* ▲ tne copy: < Bi-120 UNITKD STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BURCAU BIOLOaiCAL SURVEY LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION No 49T-fii Rashingtony D. C.« 4» 19U« isaistent Biologist* Under authority contained in tho r;acretary*s letter, No, 8 Sec., dated necessary, in strict accordance with lav, the Fiscal Regulations of the Department, and the decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, for the purpose stated and during the period named below, not to exceed Bureau of Biological Survey, 1918,* OrtRta of Mrtf and Vaoaala)* Proaaad fvom «aaiilagtoa* B* 0** on Kv U# X918* or as aoon thara- oftor aa prootlo^itlo* to Sim AatoBlo* Xosaot aal parfona aooooaarjr trarol vltlilB tho Stato of gpxia* ftr tlM jM»poao of aooarlng Infomatloa aon^ apaolal laoaoa of oo iwa i yauo a alEB naooraaiyi to poroihaaa field avpplioat oiki to inour attoh other alaoallcBtoaaa aiqpaiaaaa aa aay Bo fouad uaoeoaary In aatrying on tlilo aasSc* July 1, 1917, you are hereby authorized to incur such expenses as may be to be paid from the appropriation "General Expenses No expense for freight charges to be incurred hereunder • • 1 *1^ Your permanent headquarters will be ^S Kfiin gtOPf ]>« 0* A true copy: iating Chief of Bureau ^ ) 1 ^ THEODORE ROUAULT, Jr. WA R DE N SANTA FE April E6, 1918. • T- In accordance v/iTh the Gone and Fish Lo.v/s J of llev/ Mexico, permission is hereby granted to ♦ Mr. Alexander Wetmore of the United States Biological Survey, to collect within the state « of Hew Mexico for scientific purposes only all species of birds, their nests and eggs, and mammals. This v/ill authorize also possession and transportation of such species. 4 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND REFER TO WASHINGTON, D. C. oorY Al buque rque . H . uex » April 26, 1918. ]jr. A. K. Fisher, V/ashington, D* 0. Dear i)r. Fisher: 1 have your letter of April 20, relative to LIT. Wetmore's visit to otinKing x>aAe. I hove not been to the lake this spring but 1 presume that conditions there are about the same as they have been in the past, and if so, 1 am quite sure that Mr. Wetmore will be welcome to stay in the cabin of the Gharaa Kod and Gun Club, which is on the hill just East and about the center of the lake. This will be the best location and if he will see some of the officers of the club, at Chama, Hew Mexico, 1 feel quite sure that he will be given a key to the building v/ith permission to » use the camp equipment there,- which is complete. If ho can get the bene- fit of the cabin, boats and other equipment there he would only have to furnish his bed and provisions. I suggest that he come to Ghana, New Mexico and he can get an automobile there to bring him to the lake, as well as all informtition about wliat he will need after he gets there, as most of the members of the club live at Gharaa. If he cannot get the club house it will be necessarj' for him to furnish tent and all camp equipment, as there are no ranches near the lake, -but as I have stated I can see no reason for the use of the house and furniture being refused him. He had better arrange to get his mail at El Vado, New Mexico, which is a logging town about 8 or 10 railos East, on a rail road, Water is perhaps the most serious matter of consideration at the lake The laice water is not very good to drink. There are 'some small springs of fair water about four or five hundred yards Northeast of the cabin, in a draw that enters the laice just North of the house# If iklr. \Vetmore will write me just when he will arrive at the lake I shall try to arrange ray plans so that 1 can be there. It is iraportant that 1 visit my hunter there at the earliest date practicalo and at the same time I may be of some assistance to ilr. Y/etraore in getting located. The narae of our hunter at btinicing Lake is : Ernest L. Pineau. If 1 can be of further benefit to you in this iraportant matter I am gladly at your service. dincerely yours, (digned) J. dtokley Ligon Predatory Ymimal Insi^ector. The oonorete object of the 0* P« A* is to booQ the eaaee of game con- servation and particularly game conservation in the shape of a Kutional bird Refuge at Stinking l 4 i'>ce« Incidentally there will bo rallioa of sportsoen and game protectionists at Santa Fe» Taos* and Chania, and the Jaunt will give an opportunity to establish an entente oordialo with the Indian befvioe officials and the Indians of the Ihoarilla Reservation, on which the proposed refuge is Suhstantial toward the ostablistaeDent of a Rational Bird Refuge at Stinking hake haa been aude in the last few months* The following foots speak for themselves t 1* State Oame Warden T. Roxiault, Jr., is now in Washington working for the Refuge, 2. The chief officials of the U. S. Biologioal Survey have oome out F/. positively in favor of the Refuge. If • i 3. F. Gilpin, Secretary of the Jioarilla Sanotuary Assooiation of Colorado 3 ^ oprxngB has, together with 0. P. A, delegates, signed a Joint resolution urging the establishment of the Refugo as the best solution of the Stinking Lake Problem* Our delegates found Ur. Gilpin to be very appreciative on their point of view, and a fine sportsman to deal with. 4. A. £. Carr, representative of the Chama Rod and Cun Club agreed to the same resolution, with the understanding that a reasonable amount of shooting aoces- slble to the Chama Sportsmen is to be reserved. 5. The Rational Association of Audubon Sooieties, the Amerioan Game I’ro- * teotive ABSOoiation, and the Permanent Wild Life Ihroteotion Fund are in the field situated. WHBI.S TMR BIRD R”SiJ0E STASDS. as our allies* The Pine Cone, April, 1918 (11th issue J* SACRAMENTO Jan. 8, 1918 \l I clftsire at this time to make a statement relative to the claim that enormous damc^pe was alleged to have "been done to the rice industry in California hy wild ducks. Since 1912, when rice was first commercially grown in California, numerous complaints have come to the Commission of depredations hy hlu.ck birds, Tn 1913 the mudhen and duck were added to the list of despoilers. In an effort to arrive at the truth, the Commission compiled all possible data, from news clippings, private correspondence ,vith growers and personal investigations by its agents. The investigation disclosed that many of the reports in the daily press were very undependable. Statements were made and sent broadcast by persons who were not rice growers and whose motice uas to kill ducks at any time for profit only. News clippings headed "Mr, So and So Reports the T.OSS of 100 Acres of Rice by '.Vild Pucks" would be found upon investigation to be a pure fabrication and not based on facts. Many letters came unsolicited denying any interviev/s in which such sto-tements were mude. Many of the rice growers who were qiioted as having made statements of losses suffered by them were courteous enough to correct the statements by letters, but the difficulty was to give the same amount of publicity to the denials. As an example, this statement aupeared in the v/illows Journal: "?ir. : las informed us (the Journal) that he made a request A. to ship the thousands of dead ducks on his rice fields to a State 1 Q 'fr v' a a mi q vi o q v* / r C 1 representative was iinable the next day to find any of these thousands of dxicks and when the person alleged to have made the statement was, asked the name of the party to whom he made application for permission to ship these thousands of ducks at his own expense he denied it, as the following communication will show: "Sacramento, Nov. 3, 1917* "TJr. 7.gilhert, Vifillows, Cal. . * <*■ Dear Sir : "Yours of October 30th is received. After discussing the same withMr. 7. M. Fewhert, President of the Pish and Oame Commission, he wishes me to say. th^.t he is in entire accord with you relative to cooperation between the grain grower and the • Fish and Game Commission in order to lessen and perhaps eliminate the loss sustained by the deprediations of birds to growing rice. He states this cooperation should not be postponed until just before the next harvest season. "Referring to the third paragraph of your letter, will say that the clipping referred to and printed in the V/illows Journal reads as follows: "*Some time ago Hr. Egilbert of the >Vestern Rice Growers’ Association asked for permission to ship at his own expense the ducks which were being killed, to State Institutions rather than see them going to waste on the around, This permission was not granted, etc.’ "This article has been widely copied by numerous papers of the State. The editor of the Journal stated to me, in the presence of his reporter, that you gave him the information quoted in the above clipping. In all justness and fairness T think you should deny the statement alleged to have been made by you, if, as you say, you did not make it. The Journal, I feel sure, would be only too pleased to right .a wrong, if a wrong can be righted, by denying the statement attributed to you. "The law requires that all unlawfully killed fish and game shall be donated by the Fish and Game Commission to some charitable institution. Had there been any such game as stated, the Commission would have complied with the law, paying all expenses of same. It has gone forth to the people of this State that you were refused nermission to do this, which is untrue, because no request was made*. Such reports as these, if not corrected, only add to the difficulties of the controversy. These difficulties can be over- come, however, by a frank statements of facts* "Hoping to hear from you at an early date, I beg to remain, ' "Very truly vours, (Signed) Geo. Heale , Assistant." i 1 ■PoUo./ing Is a ouotatlon from a letter hy the party referred to in reply to the above communication: "V/illows, Nov. 5, 1917. "Mr. i3eo. Neale, Sacramento, Cal. Dear Sir: _i ii ^ ■ '• ."Regarding the clipping referred to in the .Villo/ifs Journa"' , I see no necessity for further entangling the controversy that existed. As a former nevspaper proprietor and editor I have al/;ays known that one can never catch up with a story once published. It ought to suffice for me to reiterate that I am not responsible for the story -to which you take exception." This is merely a sample of the reports when investigated in order to learn the truth so that v/e could arrive at a Just conelusion. pgr I was accused in the press of making the statement that "wild Ducks do not Eat Rice", which is untrue. .1 know now, as I knew in 1915, that under some conditions ducks do eat rice, whenever they can obtain it, I also know that the damage done to rice by blackbirds and mudhens is blamed to the ducks., and in order to minimize, the amount o'" damage the Commission succeeded in passing a law permitting the killing of blackbirds at any time in Fish and Game Districts Nos. 1,8 and 3, which districys comprised all the rice growing area and much grain lands. The Fish and Game Commission • ’* * also took the initiative in experimenting ."ith bombs for use in ridding the rice fields of all species of birds. The Commission delegated Hr, Geo. Neale of the Sacramento District Office to visit the various fireworks companies in San Francisco and endeavor to have experimental hombs manufactured for the purpose. These homhs were manufactured by the Racliff Sales Company, 146 Davis Street, San Francisco. They- were later improved and have proven very efficient for the purooi'e, as well as the most economical and lastiner method known of* In Septemher, 1917, the "^ish and 9ame Commission prepared and forwarded 600 circular letters to the Pacific Rice Orov/ers' Association for diotrihut-' on among the growers informing them of the experiments undertaken and citing instances showing how it was possible to obtain relief at a minimum of cost and effort. Those who took advantage of this method speak in high praise of the plan* Oingg and Cooper, who farm about 400 acres near Live Oak, lost nearly 90 acres O"^ their rice in 1916 by blackbirds, mudhens and ducks* They expended several hundred dollars for shotgun shells, obtaining very little relief by this method* They were the first to use the bombs which were manufactured for the purrose. 'ffhen the bombs were received there were many thousands of ducks and ether birds in their rice fields. After uSing less than four dozen of the bombs, at a cost of 06*00 per dozen, they report hot a bird to be seen and a full crop of rice , with no loss. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this method of protecting crops at any time, ' * ’ ■ not only from ducks, but have proven effective in frightening away deer and other animals from orchards at night. The persons using this method complain of being unable to secure any ducks for their O'wn use* • f , Some persons, obviously for personal reasons, demanded that the season open for ducks September 1st or 16th. Even if this date was not contrary to the Federal Regulations and State laws * protecting water fowl, we failed to see how it would give relief* Should the season open on that date the ducks would be driven back I and forth from the shooting grounds to the rice fields, whereas « I • i 5 »' • l: A. ^ ^ ^i4 * i-iir I •.- Jr • Q { M * un^er the present opening date (Octoher It'th) ‘the ducks are immune - r I V *r « * / wlien once^ driven «^froin the rice fields to* the tule ttnd overflowed^ VrfjT:- ^ If^ ' ; n lands# The^ ducks musti, huve"^a place to rest //hen dr^lven from the ^ .I 0 . * 'i '*rlce fields', 'By usin^ the homh during September and up to the^ , ■• '*/. 16thrbf '^ctober , the' due k-* will leave and go to the duck clubs I ^ I- ' ' 1 •“ ^ kW ‘ «oV • ‘ ♦ .1 V ' • • and^. other waters-^ where they will he contented to eat the natural ••• duck' food's, going out on the grain jfields a't night. gathering the rrf m \ . ■grain lost in harvest Just as they^hc-ve done In years past before an acre of rice was planted in California, and as they are now -,Vv -.i 2>vjh 'eating -the lost rice“1n the rice stubble fields. You may see any ■M , r day 'during^ the v/inter months on lake Merritt , almost -in the heart of the City of Oakland, many thousands of ducks ,^,'contented arid ■ a I B happy simply because they are protected. ▼17^* J I I < Again, the rice growers will not permit shooting or trespassing on the gr^owing rice at any time, as ban he .seen fr.om the hundreds of -■ "I* ^ , ' "No' Trespassing or Shooting” signs nested 'on the rice lands. Under H hk: these conditions it jvould not be consistent to chc.nge the date of the open season; Wlth^the amount of publicity given by the-pspers recounting the » H ^ millioris of ducks in the'^rice fields, how does the rice- farmer • - . V M #• . h* r 63CP 9 't ' y expect to keep the htuiters' out of, his rice fields? It would take ^ n r i Jikw « < ' 7 ' - / ■ ■ ^ y an army to enforce the trespass act and the damage done by the I .hunter’ would be a thousand times greater than that done hy ducks- i ^ and'raudhens, as is' shovn by the following -quotation from a letter :and. resolution passed by the Pacific Rice Crov/ers' Association, -V\ speaking ,for practically all of the growers in Forthern California; r-ii fT* ^ • ^ ^ M. .. "At a meeting of the Board of Directors of 'the Pacific Rice Growers* Association held recently at Sacramento, it was , » brousrht to the 'attention of the Board that due .to the wide publicity , given by^.some of' the rice growers of the State as to the harm done ■ >-rn "by ducks to the rice fields and to public statements that hunters would be welcomed by the rice growers to aid in keeping the ducks out of the rice fields , these statements having caused a great deal of annoyance and loss to numerous rice growers and property owners in the rice gro'"ing region. These newspaper statements have lead hunters to believe that they would be welcomed by the growers to enter their lands and shoot ducks. The Advertisement given has been so widely diffused that shooters have come from Vancouver to San, Diego. The majority of them have been disappointed due to the fact that the first comers have been aggressive and dlsrespective of property rights. In numerous places where no duck damage was done the hunters, nevertheless, entered the lands and did more damage than the ducks could have done. Faturally the hunters were,. drawn to the rice fields most convenient to highways and railroads, whereas, some of the worse damage done by ducks occured on lands inconveniently located for hunters. „ The larger erov/ers of the State feel that an effective means is at hand to protect the fields against ducks in the form of hombs and lights. They also feel that if shot guns are necessary more effedtive work can he done at smaller cost by employing men to systematically guard the fields,' The following resolution vas therefore adopted; "TRERFikORE , be it resolved that the Pice Growers recognizing the above conditions, feel that „they are the ones hest able to protect the crops .^nd therefore, insist on the r-^ght to protect the crops against damage done hy wild game hy the best method obtainable and recognizing' the principles of the privacy of property want no laws passed which v/ould in any way mitigate against the present trespass laws. (Signed) RHITEST E. BEHR Sec.” The publicity grlven the subject this season brought thousands of hunters on the opening day from points as far south as Los Angeles andjiorth to Oregon, to Co.lusa, Bigf?s, Williams, Gridley . iVJ and other towns. They were met with ”Ro Shooting" sie-ns and in some cases with guns. Many returned home disgusted, as our letters show. For the reasons above stated we fail to see ho/^ an earlier season would work to the advantage of the farmer. >ve believe that the solution of the duck and rice problem is placed in the hands of the rice grower and that by the intelligent use of the bombs made for the purpose (which have proven so effectual under severe tests) the grower will he able to save his rice crop from injury. It is felDSOlutely necesaury that cooperation "between all the rice • ■ • ~ ^ fi CTOwers must pr<»vail in the use of any^method of protection to the . The rice grower who does not drive the birds from his fields will suffer from those who do. The Federal Government, who has made the laws and seasons for the protection of this great flight of migratory "birds, intends to uphold every law tornrotect them, r The ^federal Government' has a treaty at the present time with Canada for the protection of _ •' this wonderful flight of ducks and' geese , Alaska, 'Yashington, Oresfcn, Nevada, Utah and California <-re all interested in this V great gathering of wild life and it is the' best "belief of the . r:. . T-' -V ^ ^ • state iFish and Game Commission of California that the Federal Government will not permit their destruction. '' ■ ' . . :\y , % 1' B . -1 V 0 ^ "i* 0 . , >«=>a -p 'i.- I C^_ r m ^ 4 ’ A ^ ,m * ‘ T * ^ W . J - 1 . ■ t r' A jjTlHKlUQ LAKE (Soathe&stern oorner of Jic&rilla Indian heserration, Jiio Arriba County*) SKg iivjcicn. In thi» lake we have the atar waterfowl breedlhg ground of all Hew ilexl 00* The loice Ilea in a troa^ almost on the crest of the Continental Divide* A range of mountains along the oast* dip westward gradually* hut abrupt on the east* This ridge runs parallel to the Continental Divide* north and south for perhaps twenty— five miles* cut at intervals by outlets and canyons* At one of these outlets* to the north end of the trough* is hock Lake* about seven miles of it* and at the next gap lies Dtinking Lake* 1 presume this is the largest natural body of water in the dtate, covering, I Judge when up to the spillway* fcntT sections* The main body of water lies to the northwest* connected by ohan— nel to the rest of the lake* that threads in lakes and channels through the oliffs and hills to the south and southeast* forming two islands that are hilla tbemselvos. The lake has an elevation of about 7*000 feet* and a depth* 1 am told* of 9 feet. It is said the lake is pezmanent* though at tisas during dry seasons it gets low. Included with it is a smaller lake that lies east of the main por- tion of the big lake about 400 yards* This lake is now about ^ of a mile long* with an average breadth of about 100 yards* althou^ at times, when full* it oovers much more country* (Clear Lake). In the oanyon* of the overflow* one-half and a mile* are two mors lakes that are of considerable sise when filled with the overflow of the main lake* Owing to the great amoimt of shore line— perhaps 1£ miles* and the abundanoe of rank watergrass* this lake is peculiarly adapted to the breeding of water and marsh birds. The is filled with moss; in most places it floats thickly over the surface* This and the tula grass along the shoies* is of great aid to nesting birds* by holding the water steady during Ahrong winds* The pines to the east and southeast contain many song birds, vhile in the cliffs in the oarao place cliff seallows nest» Floating all through the deep water in the lake is little long moss leaves, green, about one quarter inch l0]ig» » Timber growing near the late: Cottonwood and willow on the shore not very .mwh. hed oedar, cherry near lake, yellow pine (east side), blue spruce, fir (some high up in canyon heads), quaking asp (very little), pinyon (abundant) sunflower. ' • - . SlWUAhY OF 3TINKIKG LAKE aH]) ESTUATB OP hliUB. Area, when full (lacks at present about three feet, being up to outlet) about four square miles, dhore line, about 1£ miles. l)epth, an told, 9 feet (deepest). Elevation, 7000 feet. Birds (estimated) duly BO, 1918. Speoimen Bo. Hame Humber of Birds. 34 Eared grebe (2/s nesting) 1000 36 Pied-billed grebe (all nesting) 60 56 Coot (all nesting) 2000 44 & 57 Yellowhead blackbird (old and young) 1000 42 hed-wing (mostly nesting 100 Total 4150 Great blue herons 3 i. 41 Black->crowned Bight heron (many vacant nests in willows). 25 Ducks (1 Judge one pair out of every 50 birds breeding. Perhaps all told 160 pair nesting (breeding)). total muober of duoks 7500 Yellowthroats and marsh wrens 200 Total number of birds 11B76 In these numbers I include the isolated lake to the northeast of main - 3 - laJce - Clear Laice* Dull frogs are very abundant at both Stixiklng Lake and Horse Lake; vater dogs also In all the lakBS* a great food for the heronsa Tnose birds that nest out of the water at Stinking Lako have little ohanoe of hatching their young. From the groat number of nests that 1 find that have been destroyed* 1 conclude that few hatch their young out of water* along the shores in broad daylight. They* I believe* are the nrast serious enen^ to nests* Badgers are oomaon and they too are bad after eggs* Coyotes are abundant here and their tracks evezy place in the mad and through the grass indicate that water is not all they seek* Fox tracks are also oonmion ynd a duck hawk? occasionally swoops down for a bird* There are some very small snakes, but 1 believe these do no harm* as they feed upon the frogs* as bull frogs are rather oosiBon* Abundant in places often fifty yards from shore in the short grass* i had located a duck nest containing five well incubated eggs 100 feet up on the mountain side, oast side of lake- 1 went back two days later to get the mother duck* which was rather tame* and to get photo of nest and eggs* A skunk* 1 presume it was* had Just beat me* and eaten the eggs* and scratched the nest to pieces* 1 had decided this was a redhead's nest* The nest was in thick shin oak brush* made of leaves, with breast feathers among then* 1 find mny nests out in the sage brush that have likewise been destroyed* The alani— ing part is the valuable birds suffer most* Aug* 21* The ducks here have got me pretty well balled up by their con** VATEUFQtfL EREUIKS* Rirswira are very abundant all around the lake* prowling in the grass ■ . X DUCKS* - 4 - dnct. Since July 17th 1 have found many nest containing eggs of the larger ducks, tbat have been deserted* dost of these nests are floating among the tula grass In from one to three feet of water, aiwi as they are poorly con- structed and not being constantly built up, as with the coot, they settle the eggs sink tmder water* These nests have had from one to thirteen eggs In them* 1 believe, if conditions were more favorable and if there were no vei^ min to molest them, these nests would be on the shore* 1 find many nests in the sage brush well up on the hills, that appear to have been robbed in most every case* How, too, the ducks, since so many are moulting and do not fly but run over the surface of the water floi^ping their wings, they are misleading* One often thinks they havt< young or are young themselves, and, unless one is care- ful, there will result misleading records* in the rank tula grass around the lake are two great resting places for ducks* They have great beds of the grass beaten down, or most likely It has glown down, and thsre will be hundreds of them on this, which is generally back in brakes of the grass entirely surrounded* Some will fly out and away, others, that have very shaggy feathers, will run on the water or dive, and both, very often* Jost of thoso secured at such places are oiatured birds — adults that are merely moulting* There are many of the larger ducks here that 1 am sure have no young, although, doubtless, roost of them have laid* They stay in flocks, drifting about from place to place, at times 2 to 3 hundred together* The two eggs F-6/13 are samples of those found in nests with no sign of being oooupied* Vsiy lively my presence and constantly omising about has caused many to abandon their eggs* bhooting does not oother the coot and diving ducks and birds, but it does put most of the ducks on their wings* The large ducks here are all very wild* - 6 - I ao Id hopes It will not be necesBary to chase the breeding birds here any more, as 1 have done this season, at least, the report of a gun should be prevented. ITJH7IHG. I an infomsd by the federal officials at IXiloo, and others, that the Indians nnvor hunt at the iaices. They cure nothing for the birds, it is said, to eat, nor us sport for the hunting. But while people oome great distances to hunt the waterfowl, even from other states, and the vast num- ber of empty shells at the many blinds and along the shores are proof of the slaughter that takes 2 >lHoe. I desire to embody this thought in this report: The inhabitants rearely, if ever, decrease the ffasne supx)ly where they live. Those in suoh localities are not generally well supplied with ammunition, so they use Judgment, are usually dead-shots and kill only when food is needed, while the from the city has a supply of ammunition, and shoots at anything, generally, regardless of distance or opportunity, hence usually one lialf of the game is never gotten. The great number of duck oarcasses here is proof of the waste. The hunting, if done in a reasonably way, would not decrease the game supply to any great extent. The oharaoter of the lake and surNundings is peculiarly adapted to killing the fowl, since the lake is chopped and out by hills and ridges, several hunters having scattered over these, brings the birds to their mercy, which is very soant. There oould be nothing worse than this club cabin on the shore with no one for miles to interfere. - 6 - WA7i01 PiiAHTS FKU4 aTIHKIBO (iaev«ttion 7000 feet]. Bio Arribii Ooonty, Kew uexioo> L« Solrpas lacnstrie * Tula grass. Grows gunerally in wator all arotind laJtt. Places in great patches. Breeding place for coot and Hos. 34 and 36 and some duck. Black B. 2. Scirous palud 08 U 8 « Grows In thick oatcheB and borders aloni^ lake ahore^ where ducks nest: also grows scattered well out in water. 1 3. Uordeuo .lubatum. Always on land, outer border. Ho nests in it. 4 and 5. Tvpha latlfolla . Cat-tails grow In edge of water: make a lata growth: not coomon. 6. Polygonum Inoamatum . ilost always out in water, thick. In patches. I bel- 1 ■ lieve it produces some kind of food for water fowl. 7. HUDDla prob* ourvioaruae iloas all over lake: in shallow water verv thick* 8. Artemisia tridentata. Sage. Thic.: over hills, about lake, not among nine. Contains an abundance of small birds. 9. Cleooe serrulata. In very thick natohes along open canyon beds and near lake. Stalk smells very offensive. Uuoming bird food. 10. Potamogeton peotinatus. Yery abundant in fruit on the lake. August 7. 1913. STIHKIMO LAKE, KLV IJEXICO, AB A HHLEDIHG PiiESKlvVE ifOli VATEli FOHL. 1 reooBimend Stinking Lake, in the Jioarilla Indian Koservation, Bio Arriba County, Hew ilexloo, as a candidate for a breeding reserve for water fowl. 1st. Because It is practically of no other value, owing to Its sltvuitlon. 2d. because, owint to its altitude of 7,000 feet, it attracts birds that are rare in this region that otherwise would go ouch farther north for the same oliaatioal conditions. 3d It is peculiarly adapted to the breading of water fowl, as it has a - 7 - ^eat atoount of shoro llnoi wall bordored with watar grass and contains a great amount of moss* 1 estimate that there are over 12,000 birds here* Perhaps half of these are ducks of at least a dosen varieties. I consider only about one pair out of every fifty ducks, nesting, 1 believe, under favorable cot— ditions, the greater part of the number could be induced to breed and many more would remain throui^ the breeding season. 1 estimate that when the lake is full up to the spill-way it covers four s^^uare miles, with perhaps twelve miles of shore line. Unless this itjce i 0 properly fenced, its use as a presei^e will do little goods but it would stop late, and 1 may add, constant shooting, idxich keeps the ducks moving. The ducks need the grass on the banks for nesting, but do not need the skunks, coyotes, badgers and foxes as these ftnisials prevent most eggs that are laid out of the water, from hatching. It would require between eight and ten miles of fence to enclose this lake. The is used for no ooDsaeroial purpose, as far as I can lear^, exdept during the months of aay and Jxme, when the country about it is used as a lambing ground and the sheep are watered at the lake. Owing to the character of the lake shore there are few watering places, for in many places the hills are too abrupt and in others, boggy or contain too much water vege- tation. ahould the lake be fenced the watering plucos could easily oe left opon. During ny stay 1 do not believe there has been more than fifty stock horses watering here, and no sheep or cattle. If this laks is sot aside as a breeding preserve for water fowl, shoot- ing should not be allowed withingat least a half a mile, especially in spring and early sumner. This would be an Inducement for the birds to pair. There seems to be an abimdanoe of food, for the birds that are here - e - now are generally fat, and tbey hare ample tiiae to frolic and eoraan* I should change the name of the lake to "Alpine" or "Sago". "Stinkizig” is not applicable to the lake. "Sago" would be appropriate as the hills ore corered with it. On August 12th some cattie were watering on the west side of the lake. ruLciK lake l^onr miles sofith of Duloie (the Indian agency). Aug. 8, 1913. At this little liike (elevation about 6700 foet) which is partly artifioial, having a thrown across the canyon at the north end, I found rather favorable breeding conditions. The lake, when up to the spillway, covers about ^ s^. miles. Surrounded by mountains and canyons. I am told by the authorities at Poloie that the birds are rarely molested here. Some ducks winter here. When the lake is fx*OKen over they go to the creek that rune out under the dam. The lake is fed by springs and the water in summer is used for irrigation. The lake now is about six foet below the spillway. 1 found coot and young, redwing and young, ducks and. downy young, and 4 pied-billed grebe (Ho. 36) rather common, with young; killdeor and young. Perhaps, all told, 100 birds here. noaSE LAKE, HIO AlUvIBA COOHTT, July 26 and 27, 1913. This lake lies northeast of Stinking Lake, air lino, about 12 miles. It is pertly divided by the line of the Indian Iieservation. It la now not «^uite up to 1st spill-way, about one foot below. The lake lies almost on the crest of the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 7670 feet, bp authority of Oeolopical ?ost near. The lake has an eastern outlet to the Choma Klvor. At its present stage it is a littlo loss than a mile long, with an I P V - 9 - average widath oi' one quarter mile* Is oleart and the water is fairly good to drinlc. Has au alatost due north and south direotion* open country to the north and northwest, but boxes in between atountains at south end. Public roads on both sides; a saw mill on east side. I estimate tliat there are 1000 birds here now, many of this number being yellow-head blaokbirds and some redwings. Coot abundant with young. i<;ared grebe also fairly oonmon with their young in the middle of the lake, * diving lor their food. 1 see very fen ducks, one mother duok leading her eight young, half grown, about over the lake. Magpie and long-crested Jay very, very abundant, also crows. elevation about 7£00 feet, has very little rank water-grass around on its shorsB, it is not adapted to the breeding of waterfowl. The lake is almost a little less, and appears to be shallow. duly £4th. 1 found very few duok and no sign of breeding. No heran^ or Grain, 'quite a lot of coot with young, also redwing and other blackbird. » (Spetimen 57) drower blackbird but no yollowhead blankbird. Before X reaohed these Uyp and bait Lakes that lie north of the **White Sands" south of the Mai Pai Flow, 1 was told that there were many duoke and snipe at them. On investigating, I find that there had been many water birds but the lakes are very low now, and the water is so heavily inpregaated with HXK LAX£, JXUABILLA NEbKHVATIOH. As Kook Lake, which lies north of Stinking Lake about six miles. round, and at present, 1 suppose it covers about ^ of a squar<< rails, perhaps SALT LaiCEb AND MAL PaX Sl^XNO, TULAhUSA FLATS. mineral that nothing can drink it. S. - •. ^ • - 10 - V Wrf^. 1 sec bat one biird about these lakos,- a snipe. Sea quite a uunbor of duok earoasses, dried; perhaps wounded by hunters, as the empty shells about sng^ gest The ranchers about tell oe that dnclcs do breed here some seasons, that they have seen the young duck, such is very likely during a rainy spring; but this has been a very dry one, and as the water is so very heavily charged with the mineral, the shores are barren, with a white erust for a distance out, even the salt grass near, is stiff and crumbly. At the southeast comer is a cry- stalised formation. Looks at a distance like rock, and the chunks and ledges show signs of having been a resting place for waterfowl June 15 axvl 16, 191?, btokley Ligon. " >’1 * /, ^ »< ^ If • . • ■ ■ i: • • ** ■ • * ■ --i r ' 6 I -r V.' V ^ cO t^.r; ‘ 1 • 1 ' i.r^ "f ' v'S^ '■tr- t- C Vj 4 , si ■ _ ’ >r V ♦ s- ' -'■‘t" • ■ ’ 1 ' 'T. ■■ • V.- ' Sji'- ■ ^1 » • • 1 — . jt- ■ . . F ' '■* ^ wV . ' ■» . > , . . . . -• 4 . J^- * -S_V‘ r^i M£'.V L1LZ.ICQ; CHUb£A UTS . / PhysiOKruohy Oct. 1 to 12, 1908. Vernon Bailey. « Itinerary . Sept, 27 we left Gallup, New Uex. for the OhusCa Mts. via the Nava j of agency at i't. Defiance, Arizona, and camped 2 or 2 miles west of hock Springs, prac- tioally at the southern base of the Ats. lispt. 28, Continued to Ft. Defiance and camped. Sept. 29, Left i't. Defiance and followed north up the Bo%to Valley about 8 miles, there turned east up a big red sandstone canyon south of Defiance Mesa to top of the first level of mesas at about 8000 feet, then K,£. above and below this level until near Choiska Peakf. Cami)ed at about 7800 feet at a fine spring N. W, of the peak. Sept. 30, Continued N. £. up a long ridge onto the main mesa top of the Mts. over to the lakes near southern end of range and camped in sheltered head of canyon at about 8800 feet, hemained here to Oct. 6 working above and below. Oct. 6, Broke camp and moved north about 12 miles to where Sheep Spring trail crosses summit of range. Oct. 7, Continued north along crest of range to Cottonwood Pass where the only wagon road crosses the range and camped here till Oct. 12, making horeeback trips along the range north of the pass and down the west slope of the range « to tte post office and store at Crystal in the Hed Late Valley. Uct. 12, Crossed over Cottonwood Pass to the east and follov;ed the wagon road down onto the second mesa at about 7000 feet, and north to Tunicha Cree3c, and « down it to the Navajo^ Settlement near its junction with the Chaco and camped. Oct. 13, Continued K. E. to crossing of the Chaco Kiver and camped. Oct. 14, Continued on our course K. £. to Fruitland in the San Juan Valley. General Features. ch The Chusca, Tunicha (or Timitcha) and Luicacliruicai iJta. are one con- tinuous, uniform range extending from Choiska Peak on the south in a K. W» trend across the line into arizona to lat. 26:35 , or in a straight line for about 60 miles. From either side the range appears level along the top and the contour sheets show a variation in altitude along the whole length of the top from 8600 to 9400 feet. The main sandstone ridge, or plateau top, seems close to 9000 feet from end to end but a few craters, necks and lava ridges to the northward rise 200 to 400 feet above the mesa while one gap through which the wagon road passes drops to about 8600 feet. The range should be ffiven one name instead of three. The CarrisOs however are cut off by a wide gap, dropping close to 6000 feet, though evidently at one time a pjrt of the > same range • The main ]j[ass of the Chusca Mts. is red sandstone elevated in horizon- tal position and carved away in deep canyons and valleys on the east and west i North of i5heep Spring trail a series of little craters have poured lava over the mesa toj) in rough ridges and buttes standing on the sandstone floor, but generally the top of the range is so flat that every depression fills up with water forms a lake, hundreds of them large and small. The contour sheets are dotted over with these lakes and far more remain un- mapped. They are mere shallow basins, often only 2 to 6 feet deep uut full of good water and some filled with Potamogetons and a plant resembling wild rice. The lakes are mainly close to 9000 feet in altitude. At seasons of hieh water the lakes overflow and form the sources of numerous str^s but at - 3 - present are only half full of v^ater^ iJany springs and small streams head in the canyons around the edge of the iults* and flow ior short or long distances* Other springs and streams come out at the surface of the coal measures around the base of the ILts. The range is therefore fairly well watered. The soil of the mountains is generally sandy, but fairly rich and the whole, range is covered with forests* Canadian Zone* The comparatively small parts of the Uts* above 9000 ieet and cold slopes down to 8500 feet or in cold canyons down to 8000 feet are covered with Canadian zone forest, usually consisting of a dense growth of Aspen^s DOQUlus tremuloides * some piltea pungens and Abie s arizonica, glabrum Lepargyrea canadens i s » Jxmiperus c ommuni s ^ Hu bus nutkanus and s trigosusY and in the meadows Veratrum • Gentian_s , Qompanula uni lor^ Q-nd Potentilla f ruticesa * Host of the deciduous plants are dead and gone. The mammals of Canadian zone are Thomomys fossor, idicrotus mordax, Sorex, Erethizon epixanthus, Sciurus mogollonensis, iJttamias opera|?ius* The birds of Canadian zone are GyanoCitta,dia^eraata, Nucifraga Co- lumbiana, bia^ia arctica, Junco t Zonotridhia* Transition Zone* r Transition zone covers the greatest oart of the Ciusca Uts., extending from 7000 feet on cold slopes up to 8500 feet and on warm slopes from 7500 (or 8000 on very deop slopes) up to 9000 feet (or to 9400 on steep d* W* slopes)* It is covered with open forest of Piuus ponjerosa, Quercus gambeli and Pseudot- sugu in gulches. The undergrowth are mainly Arctostophylos uvaursa, Ceanothus fendleri, Berberis ripens, Kosa , Symphorocarpas ' , Prunus - 4 - deraissa (cholcecherry) , Frazera gpeciosa. Yucca (narrow leaf), iJanmilaria wild chess* The Transition zone manmals are Cynon^s qurntsoni, Sciurus uberti, f KUtamias quadj^yittati^s^ Oallosper fUDphilus latorc^liSf Thonon^s apache, ‘‘]s i^iinus, L^pus holzneri. The Transition zone birds are Sitta pygni^ea and nelsonl, Dendroica auduboni, Sia|ia bairdi, i*lelaneri)es p. bairdi, Dryobates i^loscopsus* Up;>er yororan Zone# This zone covers the basal slopes of the mountains and the surrounding * valleys# It comes up to about 7000 feet on cold slopes and 7500 feet on warm slopes (or to 8000 on steep S# W# slopes). The upper 1000 or 1500 feet of this zone, covering the foothills of the Tits, is forested with Pinus edulis and utn Juniperus rnoiioisperfr^ and scopulorura and contains such' shrubs and plants as / u C£rcoCurpus puiwij'olijfs, Cowania mexicana, hhus trilobata. Yucca buccata and angusti folia, ^Untia (2 species of flat pad), artCmisia tridontata, and arbuscula, rxnd trostifolia. bower dovni in the valley are Atriplex canescens and confestifolia, aarcobatus and Cottonwoods (P. occidental Is? )