AMONG THE BIRDS OF THE YOSEMITE 288 



I have not discovered their winter quarters. 

 Probably they are in the desert ranges to the 

 eastward, for I never saw any of them in Yo- 

 semite, the winter refuge of so many of the 

 mountain birds. 



Humming-birds are among the best and most 

 conspicuous of the mountaineers, flashing their 

 ruby throats in countless wild gardens far up 

 the higher slopes, where they would be least 

 expected. All one has to do to enjoy the com- 

 pany of these mountain-loving midgets is to dis- 

 play a showy blanket or handkerchief. 



The arctic bluebird is another delightful moun- 

 taineer, singing a wild, cheery song and " carry- 

 ing the sky on his back " over all the gray ridges 

 and domes of the subalpine region. 



A fine, hearty, good-natured lot of woodpeck- 

 ers dwell in the Park, and keep it lively all the 

 year round. Among the most notable of these 

 are the magnificent log cock (CeojjJilceas pilea- 

 tus), the prince of Sierra woodpeckers, and only 

 second in rank, as far as I know, of all the wood- 

 peckers of the world ; the Lewis woodpecker, 

 large, black, glossy, that flaps and flies like a 

 crow, does but little hammering, and feeds in 

 great part on wild cherries and berries ; and the 

 carpenter, who stores up great quantities of 

 acorns in the bark of trees for winter use. The 

 last-named species is a beautiful bird, and far 

 more common than the others. In the woods 



