AN EXCITING FORENOON 



IT is with birds as with places and people; 

 some are endeared to us by one quality, and 

 some by a different or even an opposite quality. 

 The phalaropes are trustful. They swim about 

 us almost within hand's reach ; we like them for 

 that. Other birds are wary to the last degree ; 

 we must match our wits against theirs, or we 

 shall never have them within comfortable eye- 

 reach ; and we like them for that, and pursue 

 them the harder. And others, a few, are never 

 so highly appreciated as when we gaze at them 

 afar off. Such are the common carrion-eating 

 vultures, turkey-buzzards we call them ; almost 

 disgusting near at hand, but miracles of grace as 

 they float in wide circles far above us under the 

 great blue dome. 



For me, and I suppose for every one, there is 

 a peculiar satisfaction in coming unexpectedly 

 close upon any shy creature, be it larger or 

 smaller, bird or beast. Thus I recall my sensa- 

 tions a year ago when after standing a long time 

 motionless on the brim of a deep, steeply walled 

 canon, admiring one of the most beautiful of all 

 our Santa Barbara prospects, I heard something 

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