In the Sierra 



by the Douglas squirrel. How he gets his 

 teeth under the broad bases of the sessile 

 cones, I don't know. Climbing these trees 

 on a sunny day to visit the growing cones 

 and to gaze over the tops of the forest is 

 one of my best enjoyments. 



July 29. - - Bright, cool, exhilarating. 

 Clouds about .05. Another glorious day of 

 rambling, sketching, and universal enjoy- 

 ment. 



July 30. --Clouds .20, but the regular 

 shower did not reach us, though thunder 

 was heard a few miles off striking the noon 

 hour. Ants, flies, and mosquitoes seem to en- 

 joy this fine climate. A few house flies have 

 discovered our camp. The Sierra mosqui- 

 toes are courageous and of good size, some 

 of them measuring nearly an inch from tip 

 of sting to tip of folded wings. Though 

 less abundant than in most wildernesses, 

 they occasionally make quite a hum and 

 stir, and pay but little attention to time or 

 place. They sting anywhere, any time of 

 [ 227] 



