592 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE TOSEMITE 



last portion, consisting of the 'words' "property" or "cheerity," is so 

 clear and full as to carry to astonishingly great distance when atmospheric 

 conditions are favorable. The insistent note of concern used so much in 

 the springtime against the jays and owls sounds like repetition of the 

 syllables wer-rup or yer-rup. Then there is the 'ratchet' note, che, given 

 in pairs or in rapid succession for varying lengths of time and at all 

 seasons of the year. The last is the only note to be heard during most of 

 the winter. 



The bird student is often beholden to the Ruby-crowned Kinglet for 

 calling attention to the presence of reclusive birds which might otherwise 

 be overlooked by him. It was to a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that we owe 

 our first definite record of the Great Gray Owl for the Yosemite region ; 

 and one of our specimens of the California Spotted Owl was located by 

 reason of the telltale behavior of some of these little birds. On still another 

 occasion the kinglets brought a California Pigmy Owl to our attention. 

 The first two instances have already been detailed in the chapters relating 

 to the owls in question; the third occurred at El Portal on December 6, 

 1914. At about nine o'clock in the morning one of our party noticed a 

 remarkable assemblage of Ruby-crowned Kinglets about the foliage of a 

 certain tree. Fifteen or more of the birds were buzzing about as actively 

 and excitedly as bees, and each kinglet was uttering its 'ratchet call' w^th 

 vigorous persistence. A couple of Plain Titmouses joined the group while 

 it was being watched. The cause of the excitement became apparent when 

 a pigmy owl flew out from the foliage of the tree. As the owl made off 

 the crowd of excited kinglets followed in his wake. 



In the nesting season Ruby-crowned Kinglets often give warning of 

 the insidious activities of Blue-fronted Jays. On one occasion, at Chinqua- 

 pin, on June 14, 1915, one of our party followed up a kinglet which was 

 giving its yer-rup, yer-rup, over and over again in low but insistent tones. 

 The cause of concern proved to be a pair of silent jays one of which was 

 shot— to the seeming satisfaction of the kinglet, which immediately sang ! 



At the head of Peregoy Meadow a female Ruby-crowned Kinglet was 

 watched at close range on May 20, 1919, as she was intently gathering bits 

 of fiber or spider web from the twdgs of a dead fir. Our expectations of 

 locating a nest were aroused ; but when the bird took flight it was to the 

 middle heights of a huge red fir. She did not tarry there but went on 

 and on from fir to fir, higher in each successive -tree and was soon lost 

 to view. Somewhere out on a cluster of needles near the end of a branch 

 a nest was being built, but evidently in a location that would be wholly 

 safe from all ground dwellers like ourselves. In the distance the male 

 bird was voicing his clear melody over and over again. 



