The Mountain Bluebird 
was after the miscreant, and he doubled and twisted hither and yon (but 
always yonner if possible), uttering wild cries of rage and execration, 
while many lesser fowls joined the hue and cry in a less determined way. 
While this commotion was going on, our Bluebird pere, who happened to 
be seated on a stump a hundred feet from the nest, was a study. Instead 
of joining the pursuit he simply crouched and shuddered, as he turned an 
apprehensive eye aloft. He was paralyzed with fear. And lo and behold, 
when all the excitement was over, it was his mate, mere Bluebird if you 
Taken in Inyo County Photo by the Author 
NESTING TIME! 
YES, THIS IS SNOW, BUT ONE OF THE TREES CONTAINS A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD’S NEST WITH EGGS NEAR TO HATCHING 
please, who emerged from the fray panting and triumphant! Now what 
do you think of that? Certainly the ladies of California are coming to 
their own! It is only fair to add that while the heroine was recovering 
her breath the male bird went dutifully after a worm. 
This same pair, observed at the Little Cottonwood Lakes (alt. 
1 1,000), showed other curious, interesting, and highly individual psycho¬ 
logical reactions. It all came of my trying to secure photographs. 
Inasmuch as I had to have the morning light at my back, and the prin¬ 
cipal or accustomed entrance was on the west side, I stopped up this 
