CALIFORNIA TREES AND BIRDS 



401 



distinguished appearance is his crest of 

 black feathers which stand up high above 

 his head and sometimes tip far forward, 

 giving him at such times a jaunty, piquant 

 appearance. The female has the crest, but 

 is a dark drab color and does not have the 

 distinct white wing patches. The phaino- 

 pepla's call note is a rich, liquid one, not 

 unlike one note of the robin. His song is a 

 very sweet one, though so low that one must 

 be near-by and give strict attention to hear 

 it. 



While throughout the Eastern States the 

 ruby throat is the only species of humming 

 bird, California is blest with many varieties, 

 six nesting within her borders and two 

 coming as migrants. 



The Anna humming bird is the largest 

 and commonest, remaining all the year 

 around, coming tamely about our yards and 

 building near our homes in trustful confi- 

 dence. One of the delightful surprises about 

 this tiny bird is his song. I have watched 

 one of them for the greater part of an after- 

 noon and the most of the time he sat on one 



particular twig and sang his squeaky, rasp- 

 ing song — a song resembling some large 

 insect more than that of a bird. Yet the tiny 

 singer enters with such evident joy into the 

 performance that one cannot help but 

 rejoice with him. 



All of our other humming birds go south 

 for the winter, so that when we see a tiny 

 black-chinned hummer in our yard we have 

 another proof that spring has come. 



One can easily understand why the East- 

 ern birds go south for the winter, but why 

 need they do so in California, where it is 

 warm enough for them, and it would seem 

 as if there might be food enough? Is it a 

 part of their inheritance, I wonder, this 

 being drawn back and forth in a climate 

 where it would seem that they might remain 

 at all times? Whether inheritance or food 

 supply, the fact remains that our birds leave 

 us for the winter months, and when they 

 choose to return to us we know that spring 

 has arrived. Harriet W. Myers.* 



^Chairman Bird Committee, Outdoor Section 

 of the Civic Federation of Los Angeles. 



THE WHOLE WORLD IS GLAD 



BY CAROLINE B. LYMAN 



Who'd frown or sigh 

 Would you — would I? 

 Living is joy now the spring days are come ! 



Who would be sad ? 

 The whole world is glad 

 Under the kiss of a glorious sun! 



Who would not give 

 A deal more to live 

 When the buds cast off their tiny brown coats ? 



Who would not wake 

 W 7 ith early daybreak 

 When first is heard robin's glad, warbled notes? 



