320 A Journey Across the Sierras— S. California. 
phalus) circling above the mountains. Prom their screams 
we gathered that they must have some game in sight. Prob- 
ably a fawn or calf. These are much raiei- in California than 
the Golden Eagle, and are not nearly so easily approached. 
About two hours before sundown we reached the Divide, and 
pitched camp on the sheltered side. Whilst my partner pre- 
pared the yellow -legged cockerel for supper, I took my gun, 
and went out to try for a Mountain Partridge (Oreorti/x 
jnctiis). Close seasons are, I am afraid, ignored on a trip 
of thio kind, when butcher's meat is not obtainable. I found 
a considerable flock of these handsome and uncommon birds, 
but failed to get a shot at them. They are something like 
the Valley Quail (Lophorti/.r californica) but are nearly equal 
in size to our Partridge. Amongst other birds seen was the 
American Kobin (Turdiis migratorius peopuiquius) ; a variety 
of Thrush with a rufous -coloured breast, very common where- 
ever there is timber or chapparal. A much rarer bird is the 
Hermit Thrush {Hylocichla ustulatus), it is marked like our 
English Thrush, but is very much darker in colour. Unlike 
the Robin it is a very shy bird, and I have only seen it on 
two or three occasions. On my return to camp, my partner 
had the chicken ready for consumption, and consume it we did; 
the keen mountain air having given us useful api^etires. At this 
night's camp we had a comfortable bed of pine needles, than 
which nothing can be more luxurious on this kind of trip. I 
was aroused in the night by the barking whistle of a White- 
tailed Deer. We found in the morning that it bad approached 
within twenty yards of the camp. Like the Antelope, they 
are often attracted by anything they can't quite understand, 
and this is especially so at night. Many a one has paid for 
its curiosity with its life. 
The next morning we crossed the Divide. Below us 
was a much larger valley than the one we had just come 
through. The trail led at lirst for some miles along the ridge. 
This was heavily timbered with pines of various kinds, many 
of them of very large size. Here we saw a variety of Tree- 
Creepei, that I have not met with elsewhere— which I cannot 
identify. Its back and head were bright sky blue, and the 
under parrs greyish white. It was a most striking looking 
bird, both in flight, and when creeping up the pines. Tlier.e 
