4 BULLETIN No. 32. 



while up after this set. Mosquitoes are not in it when ants 

 are in comparison. 



While we were eating lunch a California Condor soared high 

 up above the canon and gave me my first sight of this bird in 

 life. I don't know, in view of circumstances which seem to 

 condemn it to extinction, that I shall ever see it again. 



We ascended the canon to its end and spent one of the 

 happiest days of my life in Rubio. The gentle climate and 

 new surroundings were exhilarating and it causes me a re- 

 freshing thought whenever I recall that day with M. in Rubio. 

 John W. Daniel, Jr., Lynchburg , Va. 



FIVE ACRES OF BIRDLAND. 



We had scarcely set foot within the five acre enclosure of 

 the Ahtanum parsonage before I recognized its possibilities as 

 a haunt for birds and determined to register them in the order 

 of their appearance. The parsonage demesne is pleasantl}' 

 diversified b}' the presence of a winding stream and plentiful 

 .shade. In fact, this five acre plot contains a little bit of every 

 thing. In it are to be found a wheat field, a lowland meadow 

 of wild grass, two alfalfa meadows, an upland pasture with 

 salt grass, rye grass, and .sage, a tule' swamp, a rose brush 

 thicket, abundant willows skirting the stream, a fine lawn 

 sprinkled with bo"k elders, maples and young elms, an orchard 

 of thirty trees or .so, and a garden. Besides these there are 

 weedy tangles and brush heaps, such as birds delight in ; over- 

 grown fence corners galore ; and be.st of all, " The Island," a 

 low lying coppice which the creek almost surrounds and above 

 which towers a numerous company of young balm trees. 



On the first of June I .set out to see how many birds would 

 visit the enclosure within the year, or a given time. In pur- 

 suance of this plan the following rulings were establi.shed : 

 On my fence is in my yard, and. Over my yard is in my yard. 

 If the desideratum were very near and apparently in need of 

 encouragement I did not scruple to assist nature by making a 

 retreat into the parsonage lot .seem more desirable than my 

 approaching presence ; but further than that I did not pass the 



