L YMAN B ELDING. 131 



or down the stream, often rears its young back of a water- 

 fall through which it must fly to reach the nest, has a polite 

 curtsey for every observer, is partial to mountain cataracts, 

 and is one of our most interesting birds. 



The musical performances of the Western Lark Finch, 

 Thick-billed Sparrow, Phainopepla, Heerman's Song Sparrow, 

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and several other species, are credit- 

 able indeed. But Audubon's Hermit Thrush of the Sierras 

 of Central California is my favorite. I think its voice far 

 superior to that of any other bird of the Pacific Coast. Its 

 songs are loud, clear and spiritual. Neither words nor 

 notations will do them justice. They usually consist of but 

 three or four notes, the first note the longest, highest and 

 loudest ; but some of the songs have six or eight notes. 

 They differ from the songs of the Hermit Thrush of the 

 Atlantic Coast, judging by the examples given by Simon 

 Pease Cheney in " Wood Notes Wild." Audubon's Hermit 

 Thrush is an inhabitant of dense forest, where it is much 

 oftener heard than seen, and often sings at a height of 50 

 or even 100 feet from the ground. . 



