THE ARCTIC ZONE OF HIGH MOUNTAINS 99 



forest and lowland during the spring and summer 

 months. White-crowned sparrows who had here 

 raised their second brood were present in dozens; 

 bluebirds, too, were numerous with the fledglings 

 of both spring and summer; and Bohemian wax- 

 wings had come to join in the general festivity 

 before wandering down the earth for the winter. 

 All made the most of this limited vacation, join- 

 ing in the hilarity of the youngsters who had 

 not yet learned to take Hfe seriously. For with 

 the bird children that predominated it was an 

 adventure. 



Literally thousands of birds were there; among 

 them appeared to be a hundred or two robins, 

 flocks of rosy finches, a few home ptarmigan in their 

 winter stockings, gluttonous magpies, boisterous 

 Clarke's nutcrackers insisting on order which they 

 never kept, a pair of gray jays from the seclusion 

 of the woods on their yearly outing, and pipits 

 crowded almost out of their own home territory. 

 Even the grouse family was represented by down- 

 slope flocks. Here, where a sumptuous feast was 

 spread — and there was plenty for all during the 

 short period of celebration — birds mingled and 

 intermingled with apparent unconcern. How dif- 

 ferent would have been their manner toward rival 

 neighbours in any other season and place! 



The ouzel had fled away along his alpine brook. 

 He was not of the crowd. He rushed not for the 

 feast, but held serenely aloof. Once he paused to 



