LYMAN BELDING. 131 
or down the stream, often rears its young back of a water- 
fall through which it must fly to reach the nest, has a polite 
curtsey for every observer, is partial to mountain cataracts, 
and is one of our most interesting birds. 
The musical performances of the Western Lark Finch, 
Thick-billed Sparrow, Phainopepla, Heerman’s Song Sparrow, 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and several other species, are credit- 
able indeed. But Audubon’s Hermit Thrush of the Sierras 
of Central California is my favorite. I think its voice far 
superior to that of any other bird of the Pacific Coast. Its 
songs are loud, clear and. spiritual. Neither words nor 
notations will do them justice. They usually consist of but 
three or four notes, the first note the longest, highest and 
loudest; but some of the songs have six or eight notes. 
They differ from the songs of the Hermit ‘Thrush of. the 
Atlantic Coast, judging by the examples given by Simon 
Pease Cheney in “ Wood Notes Wild.” Audubon’s Hermit 
Thrush is an inhabitant of dense forest, where it is much 
oftener heard, than seen, and often sings at a height of 50 
or even roo feet from the ground, 
