94 
the: condor 
Vol. VII 
ing chorus lasted as long as the hawk was in sight, nor did one of the little bush-tits 
seem to move a feather, but just sat motionless and trilled in perfect unison. It 
served as a unique method of protection ; the whole flock had learned to act as a 
unit. It would have been hard for an enemy to tell where a single bird was, the 
alarm note was so scattering, they were so quiet, and their clothing harmonized so 
perfectly with the shadows of the foliage. . 
Millions of destructive insects lay their eggs, live and multiply in the buds 
and bark of trees, and it seems to be the bush-tit’s life work to keep this horde of 
insects in check. After the little family left their home, I never found them quiet fora 
PARENTS BRINGING CUT-WORMS TO YOUNG ; TWO PHOTOGRAPHS 
minute. When they took possession of a tree, they took it by storm. It looked 
as if it had suddenly grown wings, and every limb was alive. They turned every 
leaf, looked into every cranny, and scratched up the moss and lichens. They hung 
by their toes to peek into every bud, they swung around the branches to pry into 
every crack, then, in a few moments, they tilted off to the next tree to continue 
the hunt. 
Portland , Oregon. 
