Mar., 1915 
BIRDS OR A BERKELEY HILLSIDE 
81 
The second group of hillside birds, those which choose the environment of 
the dense oak forest in the midst of which we built our house, have been the 
source of great pleasure to us and to our friends. A very little effort on our 
part has brought abundant returns, as the following paragraphs will prove. 
The hill slopes in a very convenient way in front of a large window, and 
there we have built a rough drinking-fountain with a few bricks and cement- 
mortar. This was accidentally made quite after the approved plan, being off 
level just enough so that the water varies in depth from half an inch to two 
inches. On the ground between the drinking-fountain and the window, during 
the winter months, I throw out crumbs and apple-skins, and on the porch-rail- 
ing, which is about four feet from the window, I scatter canary-seed and 
crumbs. I would limit the feeding-space to the railing, were it not for the 
I'abbits which watch the birds with longing eyes when there is no food on 
the ground. I have not yet made a practice of putting out food to attract the 
Pig. 31. Santa Cruz Song Sparrows feeding on canary seed. The stripes 
ON THE HEAD AND SPOTS ON THE BREAST, AS WELL AS THEIR SMALLER SIZE, 
DISTINGUISH THEM FROM THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW WHICH APPEARS IN 
• THE LEFT-HAND PICTURE 
Photo at left by T. I. Storer; at right by Amelia S. Allen. 
insect-eating birds. In 1911 the trees were suffering terribly from the ravages 
of the green cut-worm. The University sprayed a few of the trees ; a long- 
handled broom destroyed the myriad cocoons, which were formed under the 
edges of the shingles and on the tree-trunks ; and the birds did the rest. This 
winter the trees are in excellent condition. 
Quail ( Lophortyx calif ornica calif ornica ) , of course, are very abundant, 
and very tame. One of their favorite roosts in the summer-time is in a tree 
which had to be cut away in part to make room for the house. In the hot. Octo- 
ber days an entire brood took their noonday siesta in and about the drinking 
fountain. 
One evening we were surprised by a visit from a Barn Owl which came 
down through the chimney, Santa Claus fashion. He attempted to alight on 
some oak branches which adorned the mantel, but found that they would not 
support his weight. He then chose the top of a door, flew from that on to a 
