The California Linnet 



invade the chaparral nor the deserts, per se, nor does it seek to possess the 

 mountains; and yet within its range it gives an impression of ubiquity 

 which is very nearly supported by the facts. The bird's adaptability 

 is marvelous. It is practically without associational restraints, and 

 although its preference is for cultural surroundings, it makes its home in 

 the most secluded barrancas, or haunts alike the cliffs which front the 

 cattle range, and those which face the sea. 



Of course, this associational adaptability presupposes, or depends 

 upon, accommodation in food habits. Feeding originally upon seeds and 

 the minor fruits, the bird's tastes quickly parallelled those of mankind. 

 If it was barley that these gracious hombres, their hosts, planted, why then 

 the birds would eat barley, — barley by the handful, barley by the bushel, 

 barley by the acre, or so at least the jealous farmer claimed. Later it was 

 fruit. If we would persist in setting out such delectable dainties as plums, 

 and cherries, and apricots, and nectarines, why, of course, our little pen- 

 sioners, the aborigines, began to help themselves. Why not? And if the 

 damage is beginning to run up into big figures, millions, they say — again 

 a wee exaggerated, I fear — well, I'm afraid there is going to be trouble. 

 But let us think the problem all the way through. 



Admitting that some of the witnesses are prejudiced, let us, never- 

 theless, hear what all of them have to say, and then let us weigh conclu- 

 sions. Comes the Bird-Lover, who says: "The California Linnet is a 

 native species of unusual attractiveness. His sprightly, varied song is 

 pleasing to all ears, and even his minor notes, his chirpings and chipper- 

 ings, have a musical and not unpleasant quality. In disposition these 



birds are singularly amiable. Never 

 quarrelsome and abusive, like the 

 English Sparrow, the Linnet gets 

 along well with its own kind and 

 with its immediate neighbors. More- 

 over, its manifest attachment to the 

 human race has endeared it to the 

 hearts of bird-lovers everywhere. 

 The bird is never impudent, or bla- 

 tant, or strident. It comes and goes 

 pleasantly, trustfully, modestly. Al- 

 though its association with man is 

 fairly close, it is not known to be a 

 filth accumulator, nor a disease car- 

 rier; and the presumptions are all in 



laken in Ventura County ^fc\ r r . 



photo by Donald r. Dickey xN~^ favor of a helpful, happy association 



for mutual benefit." 



215 



