Year: 1860

animal, though they catch them in
greater numbers by driving them into
a sort of net or enclosure of twigs.-
They are not so shy as our hare, and
viii at times almost suffer themselves
TO be trodden upon before leaving
their lair. and then, perhaps. will not
run more than ten PAGES before stop
ping to- raise themselves upon their
launches and look about.


Sage hens abound and afford splen
did sport, as they rise beautifully.


They are fine looking bird, and
somewhat larger than a grouse of the
common species. With a good stea-
dy pointer, there would be great sport
in hunting the sage-hen. although I
cannot say much in praise of its flesh,
which is rather too strongly favored
with the sage on the young buds
and tender leaves Of which it feeds
This bird may be said to have no giz-
zard, as the fimsy. craw-like affair,
with which it is provided. is scarcely
worthy the dignity of the name.


Of large game there is no Lack
mountain sheep, Judging from their
trails are very plentiful, but | saw
none. They stay about the SUBMITS
of the rocky hills during the middle
of the day, and only come down to
the fats to feed late In the afternoon,
or early in the morning. To succeed
in killing this game the sportsmen
must be acquainted with their feed
ing places and secrete himself in the
vicinity and await their approach
In many of the fats and little valleys,
may be seen circular pits, four or five
feet in diameter and a couple of feet
in depth, fringed around with tufts of
long grass or reeds, which are made
by the Pi-utes, for hiding places
willie watching for deer or mountain
sheep.


Deer are quite plenty, and are
hunted in the usual manner, viz, by
stealing-by the white settlers, but
I think the Indians have n way of
catching them--also, sheep and an
telope by driving into enclosures of
some kind /: as saw, in places. long
rows of sticks about four feet high,
sticking In the ground, with the re-
mains of strings about them.


The coyote. although not coming
under the head of game. in the more
common acceptance of the term, is
still, in his own estimation. at best, a
"varmint" of some importance; and
here, is not too modest to raise his
dismal voice in long, quavering howls
even at MONDAY. and in close vicin-
age to Mono Camp. Night. however,
is the season in which they pu: forth
their vocal efforts with the greatest
might and energy near the Lake,
at an hour after sunset. they will cut
shrek a Digger village, even at the
time of a "hig cry"


The porcupine, is found here. but
| do not know that they are plenty,
| saw the skin of one that was killed
near the Lake.


Ducks are to be found here in great
er plenty than any other kind of game
Mono Lake. literally swarms with
them and, what is strange, all of
one srecies-namely, the spoon-bill
What the reason is that the spoon
bills have sole possession of the Lake.
| cannot say-whether the water of
the Lake is not relislled by other va
rieiies, or, that their favorite food is
not to be found here. think how
ever that the absence of grass, and
an kind Of aquatic plants on the
margin Of the Lake. sufficiently acc
counts for TIE absence of many other
varieties /, for the shores are as bar
rem of vegetation as the bald peaks
of the sierras. But, tho spoon.bill'
being an insect feeder by nature. is
not inconvenienced by this scarcity OF
vegetation.


EBESEzER.
Omega, Jan. 81, 1860.