A Journeu Across the Sierras — 8. Califurida. 
57 
the afti'i'iiooii we reached a wharf about four miles from Saiit-i 
Harl)ara ami decided to camp tliere for a few ilays. 
Tile wliarf was liuill to ship asplialfum wliicli is (piar- 
ried in tiie lud^lilKJurliood . At tliis time we liad it to ourselves 
ami got some excellent fishing from it. A few miles off the 
coast arc some large islands. These protect the mainland from 
the westerly gales, and this is one of the few places on the 
Pacific Coast where there is no surf. A little stream ran over 
the cliff, suppl jang us with fresh water, and as there was i)lenty 
of grass for the horse and enough drift w^ood for fires, we had 
all a couple of campers could want. After a refreshing swim 
we went fishing from the end of the wharf and soon had enough 
fish foi supper, and a very welcome change to our dietary we 
found them. 
The next day, leaving my partner fishing, I walked 
into Santa Barbara to get groceries, etc. Santa Barbai'a is 
extremely well protected both from the east and west winds, 
and consequently Orange, Palm and similar trees do as well 
here a.^ they do much further south. A good many ranches 
had fine Orange and Olive groves, and amid the foliage of 
these trees, insectivorous birds were thoroughly at home. The 
Orange trees were especially favoured, as these are nearly al- 
ways in bloom. It is a common thing to see ripe Oranges, 
half-grown green ones, and flowers on the same tree. I saw 
two kind3 of Humming Birds working these flowers, the Euby- 
throated already noted, and the Green (T. alleni). These little 
gems were always to be seen, in and about the Magnolias, 
which here grow to an enormous size. The Blue Bird and his 
mate, and the Oriole were in every orchard. Vii'eos (Vireo 
hutioni), a little insect-eater, vei-y like our AMiitc-throat, crept 
about the bi'anches, and Warblers (H. ceLata latcscens) like 
our Willow-Wren darted from tree to tree. A more brilliantly 
coloured and fairly common bird was the Crimson Finch {Car- 
pailacus mexicanus fronlalis). I saw one or two of their nests 
in quite small gardens right in the town. I also noticed a 
Flycatcher's nest in a creeper growing up a house in the prin- 
cipal street. The old birds were constantly taking in insects 
to the young, regardless of the passers by. This town, on 
acooimt of its climate, is one of the most popular seaside re- 
sorts on the Pacific Coast. It boasts of many fine residences 
