296 
NESTS AND EGGS OE 
had he been so affected by song of bird as by this. Since then several 
opportunities have been afforded him, and many an hour has been spent 
in listening to its song. 
In the lovely month of May, of the year that has just passed, while 
watching two pairs engaged in nesting, he was treated to a delightful and 
gratuitous serenade, late in the evening, when most birds had retired to 
their pei’ches. Ceased from their labors, they had taken their stations 
upon the topmost boughs of the live oaks which suj>ported their nests, 
when one of the males instantly tuned his pipe, and gave expression to the 
sweetest yet saddest of refrains, which was “low, slow, sad and indescribably 
delicious and fascinating.” Mr. Evermann, in speaking of it, says : “ I 
could think of nothing with which to compare it, but at times I thought 
I could detect a slight resemblance to the lowest, most subdued notes of 
the Sickle-billed Thrasher.” The song is certainly wonderful and unique, 
and should entitle its author to a very exalted position among singing- 
birds. From all accounts it is most generally heard at nightfall, and 
only occasionally in the early part of the afternoon. Of the few writers 
who have treated of this species. Doctors Coues and Cooper seem to be 
the only persons, besides the one we have just referred to, who are willing 
to credit it with musical ability. 
From their winter-home in Fower Arizona and Mexico these birds 
reach Southern California from the fifteenth to the twentieth of April — 
males and females together. At first they are somewhat gregarious, not 
from feelings of sociability, if we are rightly informed, but from the j^res- 
ence of favorite articles of food which abound in certain places. Though 
insects constitute a very considerable portion of their diet, yet like their 
sup]Dosed nearest affinity — the Cedar-bird — they are fond of the various 
berries that are to be found in their accustomed haunts. The fruit of the 
mistletoe is said to give them abundance of nutritious food during their 
entire stay. Henshaw says: “ Lai-ge numbers of this species were found, 
on several occasions, in the canyon back of Camp Apache, Arizona. As 
they were noticed nowhere else in this vicinity, I judged that the abun- 
