156 THE SLATE-CULUR ED Sl'A^OVV. 



of soutlu-astcm California, aiul ihc mountains of nortlu-astcrn California; ^oulli 

 in winter to New Mexico, Arizona, etc. 



Ran};e in Washington. — Summer resident in tlie timbered districts of tlic 

 Hast-sidc and in tin- Cascade Mountains (west to Mt. Rainier). 



Authorities. — CSlate-coioretl sparrow," Johnson, Rcj). (Jov. W. 'J". 1884 

 ( 1885). j.-l. Bendire, Life Hist. .\. A. Birds, Vol. II., j). 435. 



'IMIl'", residents nf Cainioii ilill. in SiniUane. are to lie congratulated, 

 not alone fur their wealth, for Xatiu'e is not curious as to hank accounts, 

 hut for the rare good taste which has heeu (lis])layed in utilizing the largess 

 of Xature. Instead of going in with axe and shovel and fire-hrand, first 

 to obliterate the distinctive features of Nature and then rear mocking ])lati- 

 tudes in niortar and stone upon her pale ashes, they have accepted the glory 

 of her grim lava bastions and the grace of her unhewn jjines; nor have they 

 even despise<l the tangles of wild shrubbery, those decent draperies without 

 which both tree and clifT would be ovcrstark. To l)e sure the landscape artist 

 with consummate skill has said to the |)iny sentinel. "Stand here!" and to 

 the copse, "Sit there!" but he has not forgotten withal the primeval rights 

 of the feathered aborigines. .\s a result tlw birds approve. What higher 

 meed could mortal ask? Or where is there a better criterion of taste? 

 Taken all in all I doubt if there is a more delightful si)ot in Washington in 

 which to stu<ly bird life, certainly not within municipal Ixumds, than 

 Cannon Mill afTords. 



Here, for instance, is this wood s|)rile. the very genius of the imravished 

 wild: no one would think of looking for him in a city, yet of an early morn- 

 ing as the bird-man was passing along Seventh .\\enue, he was arrested by 

 the crisp and hearty notes of a Slate-colored Sparrow, coming from a bush 

 in an artistically unketnpt corner of the adjoining yard. In the half liglit. 

 nothing in the pose and appearance of this bird would have induced an 

 ornitiiologisi to bestow a second glance u])on the evident Song Sparrow, 

 had it not been for the sweet and jKiwcrful challenge which p<iured from 

 his earnest beak. Oorcc. rickit. loopitccr, it said, with varied cadence and 

 minor change, which gave evidence of no mean .ibility. There is something 

 so forthright and winsome about the song of this modest bird, that the 

 listener ]irom])lly surrenders "at discretion." and begins to ask eager (piestions 

 of his dainty captor. 



A few yards finther on three of these Sparrows were seen feeding on 

 a well-kei)t lawn, but ready to skurry at a breath to the shelter of bush- 

 clumps, thoughtfully provided. .\nd all this in the first week in June, the 

 very height of nesting time! With this as an cxamjile. what need to speak 

 of Ilatnmonil Flycatchers. Mountain Chickadees, Catbirds, Pine Siskins, 

 .XudulxMi Warblers. Shufeldt Jimcoes. Cassin Finches, Pygmy Xuthatchcs. 

 American Crossbills. Cassin \'^ireos, Louisiana Tanagers. Ruby-crowned 



