INTRODUCTORY 



CALIFORNIA is the land of sunshine, flowers, 

 and bird song. In the great sweep of country 

 from Mexico on the south to Oregon on the north 

 are found climatic conditions ranging from the Arctic 

 circle to the tropics. The valleys blossom with roses, 

 while the mountains are crowned with perpetual 

 snow. Hence we find a flora and fauna as unique 

 as the climate. It is the paradise of the bird-lover 

 as well as of the toiirist. Birds of the Torrid Zone 

 come here ; birds of Alaska winter here ; birds from 

 the mountains come down into the valleys. There 

 is a constant movement north and south, a lesser 

 one vertically from the warm lowlands to the colder 

 altitudes, or vice versa. 



To live among these fascinating feathered folk 

 and not long to know them, one must liave eyes that 

 see not and ears deaf to Nature's music. Yet the 

 bird-lover who Avishes to enjoy an acquaintance with 

 them without scientific study finds his road beset with 

 difliculties. From the scientific works that seem to 

 him hopelessly abstruse he turns to tlie '' popuhir " bird 

 book, which is delightful but (h)is. not lu'lp liim to 



