AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 23 



MY CHOICE. 



If I could choose the way 



That I should like to sing,, 

 I'd make a vow today 



To sing upon the wing". 



If I could choose the words 



For every poet's song, 

 I'd borrow from the birds 



That never sing of wrong. 



If I could choose the strain 



To play upon my lyre, 

 I'd ask their sweet refrain, 



Nor ever faint nor tire. 



If I could choose the day 



On which for me to die, 

 I'd have it in the May, 



When birds and bees are nigh. 



0. Leon Brumbaugh. 



THE WATER OUSEL IN THE KING S CANYON. 



This summer when I was in the King's River Canyon. I was much 

 interested in watching the Water Ousel. They build their nests close 

 to the water in some low tree or bush. Almost every morning or 

 evening rnd shmetimes in the middle of the day, you may see them 

 ducking their heads into the water, under some fall. I sat one day on 

 a flat rock and sat very still, till suddenly I heard the familiar sound of 

 the Ousel. It came out into the water and seemed to sort of test it, 

 then running back, returned with another large Ousel and several 

 small ones. I think it must have been only the first or second time 

 the babies have been under the water, for they behaved so strrngely. 

 They seemed half afraid and hung back as a naughty school-boy. Our 

 guide suddenly came up and scaren them rway to their nest. I saw 

 quantities of birds to this summer, but I think perhaps the Water 

 Ousel is the most interesting. 



Lucille Keyes, 

 Berkeley, Cal. 



