February in Berkeley. 



brown towhee, the white-crowned spar- 

 rows, Anna's hummer, and the wren-tit. 

 In the meadows are large flocks of Amer- 

 ican pipits, the goldfinches throng the 

 roadside, the California jays are squawk- 

 ing in the underbrush, and the plain- 

 crested titmouse makes merry in the 

 live-oaks. 



The pipit or titlark, as it is also 

 called, is a wanderer from the far north 

 — a plainly clad bird of the size of a 

 sparrow, eccentric in its motions, with 

 the body teetering back and forth every 

 now and then as the bird runs about on 

 the ground in search of food. The plu- 

 mage has everywhere something of a 

 streaked effect, this being most marked 

 on the under sides of the body. The 

 back is a dull brown, and the breast pale 

 buffy. Flocks of these birds may be 

 seen in open meadows all winter long, 

 uttering their restless titter of a note as 

 they run about on the ground. At 

 the advent of spring they are off in 

 search of fresh fields and pastures new, 

 136 



