116 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. 11, 1894 
SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILL BIRDS. 
(Concluded from Page 93.) 
Waxwing, Cedar-bird or Cherry-bird (Ampelis ee- 
drorum).— On this day two large flocks of these birds 
were seen. One flock was perched in a large pine tree, 
and the other was on the wing, hurrying out of the trees 
of an irate cherry grower, who had just decimated their 
numbers with his gun. It is extraordinary what a quan- 
tity of cherries a flock of these birds will eat in a day. 
They will alight in a tree and gorge themselves most 
greedily, until they can hold no more, when they will fly 
a short distance and settle down to digest their meal. 
This is ione with incredible quickness, whereupon they 
renew ttieir raid upon the fruit as greedily as before. 
This they keep up all day long, and every day throughout 
the cherry season. Fortunately their numbers are not 
great, or they would be a very serious nuisance. They 
have nothing but their beauty to recommend them to the 
mercy of man, and their destructive habits so far prevail 
against this one merit, that I fear they are destined to de- 
struction in the fruit growing sections. 
Butcher-bird, White-rumped Shrike (Lanius ludovi- 
cianus excubitorides). — Quite a common bird, and resi- 
dent. On this day a number were observed, and three of 
them were heard singing. According to my observation 
their song is a rare one, and I was surprised to hear so 
many in one day. To me it is a slouchy looking bird, as 
it has when perched a habit of letting its tail hang down 
like a string. It also has a sly, cunning manner of get- 
ting about that I don't like. Perhaps since one snapped 
off the head of a favorite canary I a.m not unprejudiced. 
The bold criminal came upon the porch where the cage 
of the canary hung, and managed to catch the poor cap- 
tive through his prison bars, and being unable to drag the 
body through the wires, carried off the head. The great 
dramatist says: "What's gone and what's past help, 
should be past grief." Therefore should I forgive him; 
but, "I cannot forgive him, an' I would." 
Blue Linnet, Painted Finch, Lazuli Painted Finch 
(Passerina amcena).— What is that flash of bright azure 
that just now caught my eye? I will stop and investigate. 
Ah! yes, as I thought, there is the dainty little fellow, 
clad in the white of the morning, the azure of the mid- 
day, add the ruddy glow of tbe evening sky! This truly 
delightful feathered beauty, in his "red, white and blue" 
uniform, is not uncommon here. It is ratber a shy bird, 
however, and is not to be seen every day. It is a lover of 
the orchards, and maybe steals a cherry now and then — 
ut what of it? 
Arkansas Tyrant Flycatcher (Tyrannis verticalis). — 
The twitter of this lively bird is a frequent sound to-day. 
It appears to take kindly to the eucalyptus trees for nest- 
ing places, and as these have been very generally planted 
around dwellings, this makes the bird a very sociable one. 
As it has no bad habits it is never molested, except by the 
wanton small boy with his pestilent air gun. It is not so 
fiercely courageous as tbe Eastern kingbird, but will drive 
off hawks and owls with a fair show of spirit, and is very 
vindictive toward the jays, which it pursues with great 
ardor. It is also down on the shrike pretty severely. 
Its pugnacious character seems to be appreciated by the 
other small birds, and one is almost sure to find nests of 
different species in close proximity to that of a "kingbird," 
as it is universally named by residents. Curious how man 
arrogates to himself alone the power of reasoning! If this 
is not an exhibition of that power in birds, what is it? 
Western Pewee (Gontopus richardsonii ?). — I am not 
entirely satisfied as to my identification of this bird, but 
think it was this variety I saw sitting on a limb, over a 
little pond of water in a canon, taking short flights for the 
circling insects. Its nest was underneath a small bridge 
spanning an irrigating ditch, and as I crossed the bridge 
one of the birds flew out and joined its mate. I have 
crossed this ditch several times lately, and the bird always 
flies out; so that I am certain it had its nest there. I tried 
to see the nest on one occasion, but the bridge was so close 
to the water that I could not look underneath. 
Brewer's Blackbird (Scolecophagus cyanocephalus). — 
Fairly common. Saw half a dozen around the edges of 
the pond where I observed the pewee. It is so closely 
allied to the Eastern blackbird that it needs no comment. 
Kildeer Plover (JEgialitis vocifera). — Quite common 
in all marshy spots throughout the foothills. So generally 
distributed over the continent that it needs no comment. 
Robin (Memda migratoria) — Resident, in limited num- 
bers in summer, in countless hosts in winter, when the 
berrips of the toyon are ripe. It seems to conceal its nest 
with more art than in the East, and does not court the 
vicinity of man, as it does there; keeps pretty closely to 
brush, and meddles but little with the cherries or 'other 
fruit. 
California Thrasher, or Sickle-Billed Thrush (Ear- 
porhynehus redivivus), — Fairly common. Called Califor- 
nian mocking bird by residents. This rather shy bird is 
seldom seen, excepting at this time of year, when the 
male can be observed, at all hours, perched on the top of 
a small pine, or in some other conspicuous spot, where he 
sings throughout the day. The song is disjointed, but 
long continued, and very entertaining. It is made up in 
great measure of the calls, cries and part songs of other 
birds, mixed up with its own rich noteB. It makes a very 
interesting pet in captivity, and rivals the true mocking 
bird in its powers of mimicry. It is a lover of the thick 
chaparral, and for that reason is seldom seen, even where 
fairly common. 
Long-tailed Chat (Icteria wrens longicauda) — As I am 
riding along a little run, thickly grown with willows, the 
harlequin-like notes of this shy bird ring out upon the air. 
I cannot see him, neither, in all probability, could I if I 
were to stay and watch for an hour; yet he is there in that 
large willow, just across the stream, and his mouth is 
seldom closed for a moment at a time. Phweep, phweep, 
phweep, chr-r-r-r-r-r, coop, coop, coop, heck, keck, keck, 
keck, rl-l-l-l-l-l-l! — the last sound like a prolonged rattle — 
his song comes loud and ringing on the air. I cannot say 
I saw this bird, yet his unmistakeable song was such posi- 
tive evidence of his presence that I unhesitatingly place 
him upon the list. I have never seen the long-tailed chat 
away from the willows and in close proximity to a Btream 
save once. I surprised one among the oaks one day, some 
distance from water, and crawled upon him quietly, until 
I had him under full observation. He soon spied me, 
however, and how he did hustle for cover! The disjointed 
song of this bird is very pleasing to me, and I always 
pause to listen, no matter how great my hurry. I have 
heard him sing in the night more than once, when |his 
whistles and notes sound quite uncannyjj 
Yellow Warbler (Dendroica cestiva). — .Fairly com- 
mon. Can be observed in nearly all orchards. To-day 
they are singing busily everywhere. One pair has a nest 
in my own yard, in a cork-elm tree, almost side by side 
with a "chippy's" nest. For the protection of these I 
wage an unceasing warfare against the English sparrow. 
By the way, you do not have to kick a sparrow in order 
to make him take a bint. There is not one of these birds 
in my neighborhood but what knows I am their enemy, 
and will keep clear of my premises whenever I am in 
sight. If one alights in my trees and sets up his diaboli- 
cal, maddening chirp, he leaves the instant I appear and 
look toward him. I shoot every one of the pests I can 
and they know it. Anathema maranatha upon the 
blooming idiot that brought them into our country. 
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella socialis).— The dear little 
"chippy" can be seen around every house, near which he 
confidingly builds his nest. He is essentially the same 
bird wherever he may dwell, and needs no further notice. 
Gambel's Crown Sparrow (Zonotrichia gambeli). — 
Very common. Seen along the roadside everywhere 
especially in the vicinity of brush fences, in company 
with the grass finch. 
Grass Finch (Pooccetes gramineus confinis). — One of 
our most common birds at all times of the year. Very 
quiet; seldom to be heard; quite tame. Although so plain 
in garb, its frequency attracts the attention from the sun- 
browned vegetation of summer, amid which it loves to 
dwell. 
Song Sparrow (Melospiza fasciata guttata).— These 
Western representatives of the familiar Eastern sonsr 
THE "NESSMUK." memorial bronze. 
sparrow were quite numerous to-day. Heard their song 
on six different occasions, but only saw the bird twice. 
Not very common. 
Western Nuthatch (Sitta earolinensis aculeata). — 
Saw one specimen investigating the crevices in the bark 
of a black walnut tree, near a residence. Not plentiful. 
Tufted Titmouse or Plain Crested Titmouse (Parus 
inornatus). — Observed two specimens in a live oak. Have 
seen them in same locality on several occasions, no doubt 
nesting near by. 
Barn Swallow (Ohelidon erythrogaster). — Abundant. 
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons). — Abundant. 
Chimney Swift, Chimney "Swallow" (Choztura 
vauxii). — Abundant. Have not yet generally acquired 
the habit of nesting in chimneys as in the East. Slightly 
different in coloration from the Eastern swift, and a 
little smaller, but apparently identical when in flight. 
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird (Trochilus platycercus). — 
Observed one of these birds visiting the flowers of a 
pomegranate tree. Was close to it, and watched it for 
some time, until it darted off in pursuit of an oriole. 
Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Trochilus alexandri). — 
Also saw one of these birds in the same garden where the 
broad-tailed one was seen. Rare. 
Purple Martin (Progne subis). — Fairly common. Have 
a colony on my own premises. 
Evening Grosbeak (Coceothraustes vespertina). — I 
have reached the last bird on the day's list, and the one 
which prompted this list to be given. The evening gros- 
beak is a rare winter resident here, and how it came to 
be so late in its migration is a source of surprise to me. 
The first time that the bird had been observed in this 
locality, within my knowledge, was when a member of 
Dr. Hart Merriam's Death Valley exploration party 
secured a specimen, while stopping here for a few days. 
On Nov. 17, 1893, I observed a large flock in some 
dense pines about twelve miles above Auburn, at an 
altitude of about 2,000ft. Again, on March 20 of this 
year, a rancher, ten miles below, shot two specimens, 
a male and female, and brought them to me for identifica- 
tion. He stated that quite a numerous flock had wintered 
around his premises, and having never seen the birds 
before, he was curious about them. On this day, June 10, 
'94, while winding down a long cafion, well wooded with 
pines, oaks, buckeyes, etc., I had my attention arrested 
by bird calls'that much resembled the peep of a very voung 
chicken, when lost. I soon located several of the birds in 
the surrounding pines, and after careful scrutiny with my 
pocket glasses, I found they were evening grosbeaks. The 
following day I saw the birds in the same locality, but 
not afterward. They were probably on their way north, 
as they winter as far south as Mexico, perhaps further. 
As I have before noted in these columns, I have observed 
the evening grosbeak breeding in these mountains, at 
an altitude of between 5,000 and 6,000ft. It is a most 
interesting and beautiful bird, and rare enough to excite 
a bird lover, when seen. I was quite surprised to note it 
so late in migrating. Its nest and eggs have never yet 
been described, to my knowledge. This western bird 
differs in some slight respects from the eastern variety, 
which nests in the far north. Its bill is not nearly so 
large, and is of a darker green color, and there is not so 
much yellow on the head. 
This completes my list of identified birds for the day, 
and makes a respectable showing. I saw many small 
birds on the wing, as well as hawks and buzzards, but 
noted nothing I could not surely name. I trust that the 
list may prove of as much interest to the bird lover as its 
compilation was to Arefar. 
Auburn, Cal , June 28. 
WHAT A TRAPPER TOLD. 
Pursuing my way one morning along the upper Wis- 
consin River in search of deer, I met a half-breed return- 
ing to a camp which I had just passed. In bis right hand 
he held a gun, and from his left dangled the skin of a 
wolverine and the bloody carcass of a pine marten. The 
matted state of the hair and the many small wounds about 
the bead and neck of the dead body, gave evidence of a 
fierce combat with a matched enemy, and an ugly bite 
across the breast proved the superior strength of some 
large animal. 
The half-breed was only too glad to relate to us his ad- 
venture, which, on account of its singularity, gave life to 
his usually silent tongue This was his tale: 
"About two miles back of my camp there is a small 
stream that empties into the Wisconsin some distance 
below. Seeing traces of mink and marten along it banks, 
I began trapping them, and was rewarded with good suc- 
cess for several nights. But at length some beast — that 
proved to be this wolverine — regularly stole the choice 
morsels of meat, and further occupied itself by scattering 
the dead-falls in all directions, and hiding the various 
pieces beyond recovery." 
On the morning of our meeting, he told us, he had set 
out at dawn to intercept, if possible, this destructive beast 
in its nocturnal pilfering. Taking advantage of a deep 
bed of moss that grew under the shade of a hemlock wood, 
he approached the edge of the stream almost noiselessly. 
Arriving: there, he knew by the absence of the mink 
dead-fall on tbe opposite side, that the wolverine had 
already committed its acts of destruction. 
In despair of meeting the animal until the following 
night, the trapper was about to retrace his steps, when he 
caught sight of a pine marten whose fierce aspect betrayed 
the nearness of a foe, and being anxious to see what 
might follow, the man seated himself to watch the pro- 
ceedings. 
The marten, a medium-sized animal, was a short dis- 
tance above the site of the destroyed dead-fall, and was 
slowly making its way toward the mangled body of a 
dead fish that lay partly submerged in the water not far 
ahead. The little animal presented a very fierce and agi- 
tated appearance, such as only a weasel can show. Its 
back was arched like a cat's when in a like mood, and the 
hair thereon, like its tail, stood straight and stiff. Its 
glaring eyes glanced alternately at the mangled fish and 
at a small hole in a root a few feet distant, where the two 
bead-like eyes of a mink were visible. Meanwhile the 
tree weasel having reached the object which his hunger 
craved, lowered his head to pick it up, when like a flash 
the heretofore hidden mink shot from its hole, the marten 
with equal quickness assumed a fighting position, and the 
two stood glaring at each other, spitting and hissing, their 
tails lashing their sides. This formidable attitude was at 
length broken by the marten, who, seizing the disputed 
morsel, made a dash for the nearest tree. But the plan 
of escape failed, for hardly was the movement begun be- 
fore the mink was upon the thief with tooth and nail. 
Then began a fight which the half -breed said he "would 
not have missed for a hundred dollars." It was weasel 
rgainst weasel. Their fury knew no bounds. They 
I quealed, spit and bit with the fury of maniacs, hair and 
< rater flew in all directions, blood flowed from their 
I vounds, and with such rapidity did they roll around that 
I I was difficult to identify either animal. Thus the fight 
' vent on for some time without any apparent advantage 
on either side, but at length the mink, though the smaller, 
seemed to begin to have the upper hand. He forced hiB 
antagonist deeper into the water, and the frequent cries 
of despair from the marten gave evidence of his growing 
weakness. 
Just as tbe trapper was about to raise his gun to lay the 
viotor on a level with his victim, he caught sight of a 
large, blackish creature rapidly running through the 
woods on the opposite side toward the scene of the audible 
combat. Sneaking to the edge of the little bank it caught 
sight of the furious contestants, and with one great bound 
it cleared the intervening space. The wary mink by a 
quick and sudden dive made good his escape into the 
water, leaving the wolverine to land squarely on the poor 
marten, whose weak condition made capture easy. 
Dispatching its prey by a bite across the breast, the wol- 
verine proceeded to carry it off, but here a bullet from 
the trapper's gun ended forever the thefts of the cunning 
pest, and the roar that attended it announced to the silent 
forest the end of this strange sylvan scene. 
Of all the animals that annoy and perplex the marten 
trapper, none are so thorough in their depredations as the 
wolverine. Avoiding with singular cunning all devices 
constructed for its capture, and displaying in its mania 
for hiding all things that are of value and consequence to 
the trapper, yet of no profit to itself, an almost human 
sense of roguishness and deviltry. 
In consequence of these exasperating acts committed 
by the glutton, we are loath to attribute anything to its 
