The Townsend Solitaire 
lows, in an instant, or, 
if the catch is unman¬ 
ageable, he returns to 
his post to thrash and 
kill and swallow at leis¬ 
ure. During this pounc¬ 
ing foray, the display of 
white in the Solitaire’s 
tail reminds one of the 
Lark Sparrow. Like the 
silly Cedar-bird, the Sol¬ 
itaire gorges itself on 
fruits and berries in sea¬ 
son. Like a Thrush, 
when the mood is on, 
the Solitaire skulks in 
the thickets or woodsy 
depths, and flies at the 
suggestion of approach. 
Upon alighting it stands 
quietly, in expectation 
that the eye of the be¬ 
holder will thus lose 
sight of its ghostly tints 
among the interlacing 
shadows. 
And so one might 
go on comparing indefi¬ 
nitely, but the bird is 
entitled to shine in its 
own light. The Soli¬ 
taire is sui generis —no 
doubt of that. As soon 
as we establish for it a 
certain line of conduct, 
the bird does something 
else. We banish it to 
the mountains for the 
nesting season — a pair 
nests in a railroad cut 
near sea-level. We describe to our friends the beauty of its song 
—they go to its sanctuaries and the bird is silent. A bird of such 
Taken in Fresno County 
Photo by the Author 
A CAUTIOUS APPROACH 
7 % 
