APRIL IN BERKELEY 



below, with a faint, scarcely perceptible line of white over the 

 eye. Despite its dull colors I am especially fond of this little 

 vireo for its winning ways and gentle disposition. Our Cali- 

 fornia variety is to be distinguished from its eastern counter- 

 part by the most trivial differences only, being slightly smaller 

 and paler in color. The song is the same — a sweet, liquid 

 warble, which may be heard at any time during the early 

 months of summer. The call-note of the vireo is low, harsh 

 and peevish in quality, very different from the sprightly song. 

 As it flies it occasionally utters a short checl(! Although not 

 very active, this species is rather calmly but constantly in mo- 

 tion. It has a characteristic habit of reaching up to a leaf 

 above its head while searching for food. 



Would that I could describe the host of birds that are on 

 the move in this month of restlessness and activity! The 

 golden-crowned sparrows which lingered as long as they dared 

 have deserted us, and left their near relatives and companions 

 of the winter-time, the white crowns, in undisputed possession 

 of the shrubbery. The Oregon junco, or snowbird, has like- 

 wise gone north or into the mountains, and the Audubon's 

 warbler has followed it. From the southward has come the 

 demure little western flycatcher to spend the summer in our 

 canons, and following it is the chipping sparrow, the gay Bul- 

 lock's oriole and the lazuli-bunting. How the season changes ! 

 Some birds are hurrying to the north, some are already busy 

 with their nesting, while others are on their way from the 

 south. The grass which covers the bare face of the hills is 

 shimmering green. The flowers are blooming in bountiful pro- 

 fusion. The occasional frosts of the early part of the month 

 have succumbed to the genial warmth of the sun, and the rains 



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