Berkeley in May, 



peace, contented to have seen without 

 coveting ! 



The song of the linnet is ever in the 

 air during May. I know of no bird 

 which, if its song be a true guide, has a 

 lighter and more exuberant heart. There 

 is much of the freedom and nonchalance 

 of unrestrained delight in its tones as it 

 pours forth a flood of impassioned song 

 in the midst of its flight. 



The linnet, or house finch, as it is 

 called in the books, is doubtless the 

 most abundant bird found in these 

 parts of California. The bright red or 

 crimson of the head, throat and tail- 

 coverts make the full-plumaged male a 

 very showy fellow, although his mate is 

 content with a quaker garb of streaked 

 gray. He is accused by the fruit-growers 

 of being something of a mischief-maker 

 when cherries are ripe, but let that be 

 for the present. It is May, now, and 

 the cherries are too small and green to 

 be palatable. The linnets are quite 

 content with a diet of seeds, while the 



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