SUMMER BIRDS OF THE REDWOODS 



shade, and their motley coats are a surprise after the trim attire 

 of the parents. The slate of the back is thickly sprinkled with 

 white and their breasts are spotted with dusky. We need not 

 be surprised after seeing them to learn that our robin is a 

 thrush, and that in by-gone days he was marked very much 

 like the other members of his family. 



Three flycatchers nest in the redwoods, and their call-notes 

 may be heard here as well as about Berkeley all summer long. 

 They are the olive-sided flycatcher, the western wood-pewee, 

 and the western flycatcher. All are very plainly colored and 

 all cry out some modification of pee iPee, but they do it so 

 differently that their notes are unmistakable. The olive-sided 

 flycatcher, the largest of the three, calls in a loud, deliberate 

 voice, pee hew, a note that may be heard in the woods on hot 

 summer days when other birds are silent. The wood pewee 

 sounds a sad, prolonged pee Tvee, and the little western fly- 

 catcher calls out in a fine, nervous, high-pitched voice, pe it. 



Among the other redwood birds the exquisite violet-green 

 swallow is of especial interest. Its back is beautifully varied 

 with soft, rich, velvety green and purple, and its breast is pure 

 white. It nests in holes in the live-oaks on the edge of the red- 

 wood forests, and is charming both in its beauty of plumage 

 and grace of manner. The western purple martin, a large, 

 glossy black swallow, is also found in some parts of the red- 

 wood region. Where the redwoods grow up into the moun- 

 tains we may also find the water-ouzel, that wonderful little 

 slate-colored perching bird which delights in the mountain 

 streams, splashing in and even under the cold, sparkling water, 

 with as little concern as a duckling. 



Evening brings its own wonders, when the bats fly mys- 



[105] 



