154 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



To this choice feeding ground the large Hooded Oriole brings her 

 three little beauties, who, though now resembling their somber mother, 

 may later grow into gorgeous orange and black likenesses of their 

 father. 



Occasionally a flock of the dainty Tit-mice fill our trees, a Goldfinch 



swings upon a weed and gathers seeds, a pair of Yellow Warblers or a 



White-crowned Sparrow pass by and pay us a short call while Turkey 



Buzzards circle over head, and flocks of Blackbirds go noisily on their 



way. 



In the early morning a bevy of California Quail may be seen scud- 

 ding across the road and hurrying to their camping ground in the 

 Arroyo Seco, while the twilight may reveal, silhouetted against the 

 sky, a young gray Screech Owl upon your roof. 



There are many other birds to be found in this vicinity for the look- 

 ing, but these are a few that are seen daily, or occasionally in our yard 

 throughout the summer, and many of them the winter also. 



THE "MORNING CHEER" CLUB, 



Of all the countless Clubs, Societies < and Federations in existence, 

 the Association to which I am about to introduce you is most unique 

 in its character and stands well apart from the busy world and its cus- 

 toms and usages. 



Before going further I will add that the members composing this 

 Association are numerous little feathered friends with whom it has 

 been my privilege to daily associate. While none of these busy little 

 dwellers of the wood ever confided to me the "Objects and Require- 

 ments to Membership in their Association," it seems to me beyond all 

 doubt that their chief mission in life is the spread of good cheer 

 throughout the community and adding materially to the general well- 

 being and happiness of mankind. Their club room is the forest, and 

 their roof the limitless expanse of sky. Their "Constitution" and 

 rules are so arranged that a number of representatives shall be present 

 throughout the year, therefore, when the Summer "Officials" take 

 their departure, the Autumn and Winter residents are on hand to fill 

 their places. 



In making the daily trip to the city, it is necessary to pass through 

 an interesting piece of woodland, situated between my home and the 

 railway station, and it is in this wooded section that the "Morning 

 Cheer" Club has its headquarters. During the spring time there is a 

 .large increase in membership as the southern representatives return 



