ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



23 



The House Finch was the commonest bird on Catalina Island, 

 with the exception, perhaps, of the Western Mockingbird who 

 was ever present with his remarkable repertoire, singing as 

 jubilantly during the night as in clay-time. We found the nest 

 of one of these birds in a small tree at a height of about six feet. 

 The bulky pile of rocks contained four greenish-blue eggs spotted 

 with reddish-brown. 



Numerous other birds were observed including the Canyon 

 Wren, Cliff Swallow, Mourning Dove, Valley Partridge, Allen 

 Hummingbirds, San Clemente Towhee, Man-o-war Bird. A trip 

 to the isthmus of Santa Catalina afforded an opportunity to add 

 two water birds to my list, namely the California Brown Pelican 

 and the Brandt Cormorant. 



On July 17 in Hollywood we picked up a tiny baby humming- 

 bird which had evidently fallen from its nest in the Bougain- 

 villea vine. The wee bunch of feathers regarded me doubtfully 

 with his beady black eyes but finally deciding that I would do him 

 no harm he settled down contentedly in the palm of my hand. 

 The little creature was as yet unable to fly, so fearing that prowl- 

 ing pussies might here find a toothsome morsel we adopted him 

 as our own. A small cage of fine wire with board bottom was im- 

 mediately constructed. This we lined with cotton waste, placed 

 our charge inside, and suspended it from the vines. 



The baby seemed nearly 

 starved so when I offered 

 him a solution of sugar 

 and water his needle like 

 tongue was soon busily 

 darting in and out licking 

 the sweet liquid from my 

 finger. However, when I 

 offered this food a second 

 time although he sipped a 

 few drops he showed no 

 further enthusiasm and 

 began to cry loudly. Then 

 as I seated myself to con- 

 sider, the problem was 

 suddenly and effectively 

 solved. I heard a loud 

 buzzing of wings a few 

 shrill squeaks of delight 

 from the youngster, and 

 who should appear but 

 mother hummingbird. She 

 she fed her baby in my hand darted about the cage 



and seemed very nervous. The entire top had been left open 

 but she could not understand that there was an easy way of 

 access. Finally, however, she alighted clinging to the side wires. 



