292 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



presents a series of little shelves and tablets caused 

 by the development of planes of cleavage in the 

 granite, and by the consequent fall of masses through 

 the action of the water. " Now here," said I, "of 

 all places, is the most charming spot for an Ouzel's 

 nest." Then carefully scanning the fretted face, of 

 the precipice through the spray, I at length no 

 ticed a yellowish moss-cushion, growing on the 

 edge of a level tablet within five or six feet of the 

 outer folds of the fall. But apart from the fact of 

 its being situated where one acquainted with the 

 lives of ouzels would fancy an Ouzel's nest ought 

 to be, there was nothing in its appearance visible 

 at first sight, to distinguish it from other bosses of 

 rock-moss similarly situated with reference to 

 perennial spray ; and it was not until I had scru 

 tinized it again and again, and had removed my 

 shoes and stockings and crept along the face of 

 the rock within eight or ten feet of it, that I could 

 decide certainly whether it was a nest or a natural 

 growth. 



In these moss huts three or four eggs are laid, 

 white like foam-bubbles ; and well may the little 

 birds hatched from them sing water songs, for 

 they hear them all their lives, and even before they 

 are born. 



I have often observed the young just out of the 

 nest making their odd gestures, and seeming in 

 every way as much at home as their experienced 

 parents, like young bees on their first excursions 

 to the flower fields. No amount of familiarity with 

 people and their ways seems to change them in the 

 least. To all appearance their behavior is just the 



