A First Glance at the Birds, 



The two commonest forms here are the 

 blue-fronted and the California jays. 

 Either the blue-fronted or Stellar's jay, 

 the two being but geographical varia- 

 tions of the same bird, is common in 

 all of our mountains. Their range may 

 be said to be coincident with the conifers, 

 among which they are always present and 

 abundant. This bird is a large, showy 

 fellow with a conspicuous crest, an orna- 

 ment wholly absent in the California jay, 

 which is the common species of the val- 

 ley region. He is as characteristic an 

 inhabitant of the oaks as the former is 

 of the pines, and is probably one of our 

 best-known California birds. 



In the starling family I need scarcely 

 remind you of our meadow-lark, with 

 golden throat and silver voice, which 

 we are exterminating with so ruthless a 

 hand in order that our gourmands may 

 have a mouthful of their dainty breasts. 

 Bullock's oriole, a loud, inspiring song- 

 ster, flashes in coat of black and golden 

 orange among our trees all summer, 

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