AND
GAME FISHES
OF THE
PACIFIC COAST
Live and Carefully Mounted
Birds and Fishes.
With Ready Reference Diagrams of Each Family,
Giving the Scientific and Common Names
of Each Genus and Species, Their
Relationship, Breeding Grounds
and General Range.
NEWS PUBLISHING CO., Los Angeles.
By H. T. Payne
Laws recently enacted by most of the states for thebetter protection of the game, imposing a nominal licensefor the privilege of hunting it, have enabled usto take a census, as it were, of that vast number ofthe American people who enjoy the health-giving sportsof the field. This census reveals the fact, that, of thewhole population of the Pacific Coast, nearly twenty percent of all those over fifteen years of age are licensedsportsmen. Add to these the large number of anglers,not counted in this enumeration, and the rapidly increasingnumber of young ladies who are learning toenjoy the exhilarating sports of the field and stream,and this percentage will be appreciably increased. It is,therefore, obvious that a study of the game birds andgame fishes must be one of interest to a very largeportion of our people, and especially to the youngergeneration whose knowledge of the game they bringto bag is still in the formative state.
Unlike all other works treating of the birds and fishes,this one is written from the standpoint of the practicalsportsman and angler, rather than for the student ofornithology or ichthyology. I have, therefore avoidedthe use of technical names as much as possible, andemployed in the description of the various species theplainest language consistent with a clear understandingof their distinguishing features. I have, however, forthe benefit of those who wish to learn their scientificnames and genetic relationship, added after the descriptionof the members of each family, a tabulated form,giving the Order, Family, Subfamily and Genus towhich the several species belong; together with theircommon names, general range and breeding grounds.A new and convenient feature of ready reference.
The numerous illustrations, which are from photographsof the actual birds, is a new feature of greatimportance to the student, as they give the perfect markingsof every feather, and the true gradation of color asappearing in nature.
That, by placing within the reach of the younger generationof sportsmen, such knowledge of the game birdsand game fishes as I have gained through more thanhalf a century spent in their pursuit, may, in a measure,liquidate the deep debt I owe for the many happy hoursand excellent health drawn from the exhilarating sportsof the field and stream, is the earnest wish of