294 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



gorge, I once drove one ahead of me from rapid to 

 rapid, disturbing him four times in quick succes 

 sion where he could not very well fly past me on 

 account of the narrowness of the channel. Most 

 birds under similar circumstances fancy themselves 

 pursued, and become suspiciously uneasy ; but, in 

 stead of growing nervous about it, he made his 

 usual dippings, and sang one of his most tranquil 

 strains. When observed within a few yards their 

 eyes are seen to express remarkable gentleness and 

 intelligence ; but they seldom allow so near a view 

 unless one wears clothing of about the same color 

 as the rocks and trees, and knows how to sit still. 

 On one occasion, while rambling along the shore of 

 a mountain lake, where the birds, at least those 

 born that season, had never seen a man, I sat down 

 to rest on a large stone close to the water's edge, 

 upon which it seemed the ouzels and sandpipers 

 were in the habit of alighting when they came to 

 feed on that part of the shore, and some of the 

 other birds also, when they came down to wash or 

 drink. In a few minutes, along came a whirring 

 Ouzel and alighted on the stone beside me, within 

 reach of my hand. Then suddenly observing me, 

 he stooped nervously as if about to fly on the in 

 stant, but as I remained as motionless as the stone, 

 he gained confidence, and looked me steadily in the 

 face for about a minute, then flew quietly to the 

 outlet and began to sing. Next came a sandpiper 

 and gazed at me with much the same guileless ex 

 pression of eye as the Ouzel. Lastly, down with a 

 swoop came a Steller's jay out of a fir-tree, proba 

 bly with the intention of moistening his noisy 



