CHAPTER IX 
CHAPARRAL 
EAVING the East in November when it 
was already winter and snow was fall- 
ing, while juncos and white-throated spar- 
rows were abundant, I arrived in Santa 
Barbara to find the Western congeners of 
these birds already domiciled, while the warm 
mellow days were autumn-like and the first 
spring flowers were appearing—a strange 
mixture of the seasons, characteristic of 
California. Violet nightshade, laurel, and 
wild currant as well as the white ceanothus 
were in bloom. Soon the blue ceanothus 
appeared and the toothwort, the most delicate 
of all crucifere. These are all spring blos- 
soms, and it may be said, therefore, that spring 
begins inthe Santa Inez Mountains in Novem- 
ber, notwithstanding winter birds have just 
arrived. Rain had fallen, however, in Octo- 
ber and it was due to this that spring was 
thus early. It would perhaps be more ac- 
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