Summer Birds of the Redwoods. 



that may be heard in the woods on hot 

 summer days when other birds are 

 silent. The wood pewee sounds a sad, 

 prolonged pee wee^ and the little western 

 flycatcher calls out in a fine, nervous, 

 high-pitched voice, pe' it. 



Among the other redwood birds the 

 exquisite violet-green swallow is of es- 

 pecial interest. Its back is beautifully 

 varied with soft, rich, velvety green and 

 purple, and its breast is pure white. It 

 nests in holes in the live-oaks on the 

 edge of the redwood forests, and is 

 charming both in its beauty of plumage 

 and grace of manner. The western 

 purple martin, a large, glossy black 

 swallow, is also found in some parts of 

 the redwood region. Where the red- 

 woods grow up into the mountains we 

 may also find the water ouzel, that won- 

 derful little slate-colored perching bird 

 which delights in the mountain streams, 

 splashing in and even under the cold, 

 sparkling water, with as little concern as 

 a duckling. 



192 



