AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



151 



BIRD NOTES FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 



ODGDnooa;: 



By H. W. Myers, Los Angeles, Cal. 



N this land of golden sunshine and gorgeous flow- 

 ers, let us not overlook the many beautiful birds 

 which are constantly around us, helping by their 

 very presence to make life more complete. 



What greater joy for a bird lover, than to sit 

 by the open window and the soft moonlight, and 

 listen to the soul filling music of the Mocking-bird 

 as it is wafted in on the night air ; that air made 

 sweet by the perfume of the orange blossom. 



The Mocking-bird and the orange blossom ; — in 

 my thoughts they are associated together, for in 

 the spring, when the air is heavy with this most 

 j delicious odor, the Mocking-bird sings all night 

 p. long to his brooding mate. Nor does he rest by 

 day, — on the contrary he seems to be always sing- 

 ing, and one cannot help wondering if the grace- 

 ful fellow never eats. 



These tame friendly birds are with us all the year and this 

 corner of the bird world would seem quite incomplete without 

 them. 



It is always amusing to watch them dive at the family cat and 

 give her a dig on the back with their bills, while they fan her 

 sides with their wings. We always know that they have a nest 

 somewhere near when they attack the cat with their guttural 

 "kerr, kerr," and though we are fond of the cat, we are glad 

 to have the old birds pick her, for does she not get more than 

 her share of these sweet songsters when they are still too young 

 to defend themselves ? 



I fear so ; — and from the number yearly destroyed in this way 

 and in numerous others, I sometimes marvel that there are so 

 many left. 



Not the least entertaining thing is the opportunity of watching 

 Madame Mocker scold a Butcher bird who has had the audacity 

 to venture into the neighborhood where Madame is feeding her 

 young. Flying up to the electric wire and seating herself only a 

 few feet from this handsome intruder, she will raise her tail, 

 drop her wings, and bristling up to twice her natural size, will 

 send forth an angry bird protest, which interpreted means I am 



