Taken in Fresno County 



The Oregon Juncoes 



yourself until such time as the birds are ready to 

 play a game of their own choosing. 



There is a jovial restlessness about these 

 birds in flock which is contagious. Their 

 every movement is accompanied by a 

 happy titter, and the pursuit of neces- 

 sities is never so stern that a saucy 

 dare from one of their number will 

 not send the whole company off pell- 

 mell like a rout of school-boys. 

 Whenever a Junco starts to wing, it 

 flashes a white signal in the lateral 

 tail-feathers; and this convenient 

 "recognition mark" enables the birds 

 to keep track of each other through- 

 out the maddest gambols in brush-lot 

 or tree-top. 



In the early days of March the 

 Juncoes gather now and again for a 

 grand concert. The males mount 

 the bush-tops and hold forth in rival 

 strains, while the females lurk under 

 cover and take counsel of their 

 hearts. Junco's song is a sweet 

 little tinkling trill, not very preten- 

 tious, but tender and winsome. 

 Interspersed with this is a variety of 

 sipping and suckling notes, whose 

 uses are hard to discern. Now and 

 then, also, a forcible kissing sound 

 may be heard, evidently a note of 

 repulsion instead of attraction, for it is employed in the breeding season 

 to frighten enemies. During the progress of the concert some dashing 

 young fellow, unable fully to express his emotion in song, runs amuck, 

 and goes charging about through the woodsy mazes in a fine frenzy — 

 without, however, quite spilling his brains. Others catch the excitement 

 and the company breaks up in a mad whirl of amorous pursuit. 



But before the songs are altogether sung out, or "life's great de- 

 cision" made, the companies begin to climb the hillsides. Up, up they 

 will go with the ascending season, so that Junco's year may be appro- 

 priately described as mountain climbing. Now and again a pair will 

 pause, marriage can no longer be deferred ; or else the coolness of a suitable 



SIERRA JUNCO, FEMALE 



Pholo by the A uthor 



THIS IS THE MOTHER OF THE PHOTOPHOBIC 

 DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT 



?Q2 



