The Arizona sentinel., 1895-03-16
Eao.5n ts,e Colorado River.

attemps to run by memory; il
 spite of it's bars of mud and broac
 channels. The boats, built es
 pecially, are almost as good ol
 mud as on water They turn anc
 wash out with the stern wheel,
 channel where there is none, swin!
 on their center, and wriggle off
 bar, or slide over it with littl,
 slackening of speed making, on thu
 whole, remarkable time. Nowhert
 in the United States can such {
 quantity and assortment of "bay
 birds" be seen today as on the
 shores of the lower river and the
 Gulf of California. These are Iong
 and low and protected from heavy
 surf by miles of shallow water, SC
 that flat-bottomed river boat car safely coast along the miles of this 1
 open sea. Over the water rings the clear call of the curlew; and out on it's edge you may see his buff coat as he wades about and plies his long, sckle-shaped bill Beside him-with bill as long but curved the other way--the avocet in snowy coat and wings of jet stands fat and happy. On almost every square yard of the shore the black, white and brown of the willet blend into grey; and beside him plays the same yellow-leg that on the sandbars of the At lantic has stirred the soul of so many boys. In somber gray the sanderling trots along the mud flats; and little sandpipers in flashes of white and black whisk about as if little time were left them to get anywhere. The phal- a rope mingles with the crowd, his long, trim bill and more gamey tints of brown making h1m seem of finer blood than the rest; and he dowitcher with longer bill, more slender head and rich, wine -colored breast, airs himself as if the only true gentleman in the lot. There is an occasional gleam from the bright black and white of the oyster catcher, whose shorter body makes him seem a bit out of place among his trim companions. Even the turnstone seems @ little lonely for the same reason, though his pure jet and snowy white, with slight tinges of reddish brown, show him for a shore bird. Plover whizz about with tender whistle until in place every foot of shore for leagues seems alive at ebb tide.
 The ducks and geese in winter remind one of the days before the rapid settlement of Southern Cali fornia. Along the horizon-line, and across the sky, they steam in long strings and crescent lines, while the open water is darkened with sheets of them dozing away the warm noontide. Far inland over the sloughs there rushes fringe the water, you may see the mallard bow his wings as he hoy CTS to alight; and the forked rudder of the sprigtail set for the same direction. With curved and stiff fened wings, teal ride down the air with a rush that makes 1t hiss; and the plaintive whistle of the wid- geon as he cuts the air tells you that he would liko to alight if you would let him. Here the spoon bill rides at ease, as if conscious that you do not consider him the best of ducks. Canvassbacks and redheads, with cautious circles. high above the pond before alighting, finally set their wings and slide down a long incline to the water; and if the pond is large enough, the travelling geese wind slowly around it twice or thrice on wary wing, and then settle slowly down into the center. The Canada goose seems shy of these grounds at times; but the snow goose, with white body gleaming in the sum- shine, airs his black tipped wing on every breeze; and the lesser dark goose, or Hutchins goose, and the sandhill crane, are found in places. Herons, egrets, ibises, bitterns, gulls, cormorants and great numbers of large white pei jeans with black-tipped wings, swell the list for those who like to see plenty of wild life without re- gard to table qualities. On shore