down and eyes intently scanning the ground, heedless of their sur 

 roundings, until a step close by frightens them away a short distance, 

 where the search for food begins again. They lack the pretty con- 

 fiding ways of the redpoll, and awaken but little interest. 



The young yellow wagtails were also numerous at this time, and 

 searched damp spots in and about the yard for insects, their long 

 slender tails balancing up and down with a jaunty air. When the 

 tide went down they gathered along high-water mark to feast on the 

 fare there provided. Flitting from rock to rock, or picking their way 

 daintily from place to place, they offered a pleasing picture until, 

 their hunger satisfied, they arose and passed one by one to the bare 

 hillsides, where they remained until hunger called them back again. 



In the latter part of July the garden was the center of attraction 

 for several species of warblers, which reveled among the insects of 

 the lettuce and turnip beds. The black-capped flycatcher was the 

 most numerous, although at times the black-poll warbler was about 

 equally common. Now and then a yellow warbler enlivened the place 

 like a ray of sunshine. Numerous young golden-crowned warblers, 

 and an occasional willow warbler, appeared at this time, and searched 

 the crevices of the fences, and even the eaves of the houses, for in- 

 sects. Along wet paths leading away from the houses, and some- 

 times from the yard itself, stray water-wagtails and titlarks were 

 sometimes started. 



Golden-crowned and white-crowned sparrows claimed their 

 share of attention at this time, as they levied their tax upon the 

 garden, or flitted from fence to fence, ready to dive into a weed-patch 

 at the first alarm. The fox sparrow returned for a short and timid 

 farewell before seeking winter quarters, and was followed by the 

 tree sparrow. 



Stray robins showed themselves once or twice during the sum- 

 mer, but a single brief visit to the garden was enough for them. A 

 few gray-cheeked thrushes usually appeared silently for a day or 

 two. More rarely still a wheatear appeared, skulking about the ends 

 of the houses, then hastening to take shelter in crevices among the 

 stones on the beach. A few white-bellied swallows fraternized a few 

 days with the barn swallows before going south ; and the latter were 

 busy during August preparing their young for the long journey to 

 warmer lands. 



Sometimes black-breasted turnstones visited wet places about the 

 houses, while the semipalmated sandpiper was always numerous, 

 adventurous individuals even passing under the fence and investigat- 



36 



