The Hermit Warbler 



California. Has been twice taken in winter in west central California: Pacific Grove 

 and San Geronimo (Mailliard-Grinnell). 



Authorities. — Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 1858, p. 268 (Petaluma); 

 Brewster, Auk, vol. iv., 1887, p. 166 (discovery of nest and eggs, at Blue Canon) ;Barlow, 

 Auk, vol. xvi., 1899, p. 156 (Eldorado Co., nesting habits, desc. nest and eggs); ibid., 

 Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 179 (Sierra Nevada; habits, song, etc.). 



FIRST impressions are unescapable; and the author hopes he may 

 be pardoned, for once, in introducing verbatim et literatim a record 

 written in the State of Washington, because it is, after all, strictly appli- 

 cable to much of the Hermit Warbler's setting in California. 



"There is a piece of woodland south of Tacoma which we call the 

 Hermit Woods, because here on any May day may be heard the voice 

 of this exalted Warbler. The proper hour in which to approach this forest 

 is early morning, before the winds have begun to stir in its dim aisles, 

 and while the hush of its nightly peace is upon everything — save the 

 birds. The soft moss muffles the footsteps, so that the devotee may 

 move about unheralded from shrine to shrine, as he pays silent homage 



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 Taken in Yosemite Valley 



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Photo by the A uthor 



THE CATHEDRAL IN WHICH THE HERMIT SINGS 



491 



