A Glimpse of the Birds of Berkelev, 



the very clearly marked strains of this 

 bird. Coming out of the dark, damp 

 night, so sudden and so beautiful, and 

 followed by so perfect a calm, I know 

 of no more impressive bird music. 



When the rainy months of winter 

 are ended and the meadow-lark is 

 sounding his loud, rich strains from 

 the field, and the linnet is fluttering 

 and bubbling over with song, a host of 

 merry travelers come hurrying to our 

 trees and gardens. The jolly little 

 western house-wren bobs about in the 

 brush, and as the wild currant puts 

 forth its first pink, pendulous blossoms, 

 the beautiful little rufous humming-bird 

 comes to dine upon them. I know 

 not how he times his visit so closely, 

 but certain it is that the pungent woody 

 odor of these blossoms is inseparably 

 linked in my mind with the fine, high, 

 insect-like note of these pugnacious lit- 

 tle mites in coats of shimmering fire, 

 that come to us from Central America 

 at the very first intimation of spring. 

 ii8 



