JANUARY IN BERKELEY 



flocks of American pipits were restlessly moving about in t!ie 

 more exposed fields. The western robin, too, was abroad, 

 while late in the afternoon I observed flocks of meadow-larks 

 flying from their feeding-ground in the meadows to their roost- 

 ing-place in the hills. 



Our winter birds are, on the whole, a happy colony, for the 

 weather seldom grows so cold as on the day above mentioned, 

 and the rain must be exceptionally severe and driving to 

 dampen the ardor of bird nature. During the milder rains the 

 Nuttall's white-crowned and the golden-crowned sparrows 

 seem to enjoy the most perfect content, for at no other season 

 do they sing so constantly. It is not a loud, enthusiastic song, 

 but rather a meditative, pensive strain of a fine, sweet, long- 

 drawn character. In the hedge-rows by the orchard, when 

 the birds are congregated in considerable numbers during the 

 course of a dismal, slow, three weeks' rain, there will be a 

 perfect medley of sweet tones from these two species. The 

 white- and golden-crowned sparrows, adorned with head- 

 markings of black and white in the one species and black and 

 gold in the other, are among the commonest of our winter 

 birds. Gambel's white-crowned sparrow remains throughout 

 the year, although less abundant during the summer months. 

 The California brown towhee is another very common resi- 

 dent, remaining with us both in summer and winter. He is 

 considerably larger than a sparrow, although belonging in the 

 same family, and is very soberly dressed in brown. His 

 sprightly ways and domestic haunts make him a familiar and 

 entertaining dooryard neighbor. 



The trees are inhabited by a gay colony of birds at this 

 season, free from all care save that of obtaining sufficient food. 



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