A BUNCH OF BRIGHT BIRDS 271 



instance, and the different species of phcebe. In 

 endurance, as well as in passion, Pyrocephalus is 

 not behind the best of them, while his exceptional 

 bravery of color gives him at such moments a 

 glory altogether his own. Sometimes, indeed, he 

 seems to be emulous of the skylark himself, he 

 rises to such a height, beating his way upward, 

 hovering for breath, and then pushing higher and 

 still higher. Once I saw him and the large Ari- 

 zona crested flycatcher in the air side by side, 

 one as crazy as the other ; but the big magister 

 was an awkward hand at the business, compared 

 with the tiny Pyrocephalus. 



It was good to find so showy a bird so little 

 disposed to shyness. At Old Camp Lowell, where 

 I often rested for an hour at noon in the shade 

 of one of the adobe buildings, the bachelor winter 

 occupants of which were kind enough to give me 

 food and shelter (together with pleasant com- 

 pany) whenever my walk took me so far from 

 home, our siesta was constantly enlivened by his 

 bright presence and engaging tricks. One day, 

 as he perched at the top of a low mesquite, on a 

 level with our eyes, I put my glass into the hand 

 of the younger of my hosts. He broke out in a 

 tone of wonder. " Well, now," said he (he spoke 

 to the bird), "you are a peach." And so he is. 

 It is exactly what, in my more old-fashioned and 



