AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. i35 



from the captain they retreat in skirmish order. At times the 

 male is bolder, and will answer defiantly an imitation of his 

 bugle-call, consisting of three shrill notes with the accent on the 

 second. 



Now is heard a sharp chirp and looking for some strange bird, 

 we are surprised to see a Chipmunk scamper out into the little 

 glade. He is evidently no less surprised, and after trying for a 

 long time with 'thrill scolding, to drive away the intruder, retires, 

 still grumbling. The big Gray Squirrel is more confiding and soon 

 becomes accustomed to a friendly presence. He seems to weigh 

 less than nothing as he alights on some frail, bending twig, and 

 almost seems as if he should be classed among the birds, so free 

 are his movements among the tree tops. When he does descend 

 to the ground he seems less at home there than many a bird. 

 As he bounds over the ground his tail floats out with an undulating 

 motion and he seems too light to move easily on solid ground. 

 Like a bit of thistle down blown by a puff of air he floats along. 



A scratching sound is heard, then a surly "craw, craw." 

 Evidently it is poor picking, or else the bird is not easily satisfied, 

 for he keeps up a constant grumbling. When he comes out into 

 sight he proves to be a really handsome bird, showily dressed in 

 black and white, with "orange tawny" breast; a bird that one 

 would expect to show off in the tree-tops with orioles and gros- 

 beaks, instead of skulking in the bushes. It is the Spurred 

 Towhee {Pipilo maculatus megalojiyx) , hut his fine name and fine 

 feathers are all that there is fine about him. He seems a surly 

 fellow, but perhaps we misinterpret the mood which his harsh 

 notes are meant to express. I have seen him, inspired by fine 

 sunset, climb several twigs high in a shrub, and give voice with 

 evident delight to a sort of trill, varied after a time by being 

 sung in another key. I found this bird far less shy than in 

 Mendocino county and even tamer than the California Brown Towhee, 

 which is so familiar in towns and gardens. The plain Tit-mouse, 

 with his little pointed crest and gray coat, stops on a branch near 

 by to hammer open a seed held skillfully in his claw. Then he 

 catches sight of his feathered love, and an animated chase ensues 

 up and down the branches, in and out, with excited "tzick, a zee 

 zee." A rival joins in the chase, but is finally driven off and our 

 first friend is successful in his suit. 



Vigor's Wren, with his hearty, cheerful song, and bustling manner, 



