THE BIRDS OF THE ISLANDS 161 



iridescent. It builds its nest in even more inaccessible 

 crevices than does the eagle, the nest being made up 

 of sticks and wool. 



The number of small birds about our camp and along 

 the ledges of rock facing it was interesting. The San 

 Clemente song sparrow was chiefly in evidence, and 

 its captivating song and call were often heard. Here, 

 too, in the convolvulus-entwined chaparral that topped 

 the sides of the canon, were the golden-crowned spar- 

 row, the Western chipping sparrow, which Professor 

 Grinnell thinks is a resident, and Bell's sparrow — all 

 attractive little creatures. 



Running about the camp, sometimes under the table 

 or near the tent, was the Clemente towhee {Pipilo 

 elements). When all else was silent we would hear a 

 scratching among the leaves under the cactus, and 

 presently a towhee would run out and trot across the 

 open to another place of vantage, going in with a 

 sort of diving motion. I did not hear the note. This, 

 or the mainland species, is the most familiar bird in 

 Southern California, common in every garden. Those 

 who have attached themselves to me in Pasadena 

 diligently eat up my sweet peas, scratch up the small 

 bulbs, and are very much of a nuisance. 



Grinnell saw a waxwing on San Clemente, and doubt- 

 less nearly all the migrant birds reach here at times. 

 Near China Point he observed the California shrike, 

 the dusky warbler, and Audubon's warbler. 



One of the very common birds near our camp was 

 the rock wren, a beautiful little creature. When I 

 sat by the rocky wall which rose back of us I could see 

 it dodging in and out along the ledge, often coming 

 up to within a few feet of me. Its song is charming, 



