FIELD-DAYS IN CALIFORNIA 



I have been much indebted, enables me to call 

 it. And the sight reminds me that I have yet to 

 see a blue violet on the Pacific coast, though I 

 have seen at least three kinds of yellow ones. 



As I approach a house a splendid dark-blue 

 jay shows itself. One of the royal birds ; a pretty 

 strict forester, one would imagine it ought to be ; 

 but it seems plain, from what I have remarked 

 here as well as elsewhere, that it finds something 

 to its advantage in the neighborhood of man. I 

 am always ready for another look at it. Such 

 depth and richness of color, and so imposing a 

 topknot ! I recall the excitement of my first meet- 

 ing with one of its brothers, the long-crested, at 

 the Grand Canon in December last. Many new 

 birds I have seen since then, but few to give me 

 keener pleasure. 



Another stretch of woods, and I am near an- 

 other house. And outside the fence, reclining in 

 the sun, is the lord of the manor, a shaggy Ger- 

 man, with whom I pass the time of day — though 

 the time of day might seem to be about the last 

 thing to interest a man so profitably employed. 

 A cat lies stretched out in the grass beside him. 

 Yesterday he had a dog for company. Cats and 

 dogs alike have a special fondness for the society 

 of lazy people, I believe. 



Still another half-mile of forest, and I come 



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