Page:Condor17(2).djvu/22

84 THE CONDOR Vol. XVII food. He is so fond of California holly-berries, that he flew against the window twice one morning, in his effort to reach a bunch in a vase within. A pair of Vigors Wrens (Thryoma?es bewicki spilurus) have nested about the house each year. This year the nest was under the edge of a tarpaulin which covered the water-tank. They raised five young. I sat down at the bottom of the tank one day when the young were being fed, to see if they would become accustomed to my presence. The female readily adapted herself to the situation, but she had to give very peremptory orders to her spouse, before he could be induced to bring his worms to the door-way and deliver them to her. The Plain Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus inornatus) I see and hear very often. The Wren-tit is perhaps the least suspicious bird on the feeding-ground. While the other birds wait at a distance for me to close the door after putting out the food, he comes chattering through the bushes and begins his meal. He seems ill at ease on the railing, but I believe that this is due not so much to his proximity to the ?vindow as to the fact that he has no twig to cling to. He Fig. 34. INTERMEDIATE WREIg-TITS. THE LONG, UP-TILTED TAIL AND THE COI?IPAR- ATIVELY SHORT STRAIGHT RILL, AS ?VELL AS LARGER SIZE, ASSURES ONE THAT IT IS NOT A WREN Photos by T. I. Storer. always approaches the feeding-ground making the noise which Dr. Grinnell has likened to the sound made by rubbing together two sticks. Bush-tits are aH about us. During the hot days in the fall, it is a treat to ?vatch them about the drinking fountain. As many as can do so get into the ?vater; the others sit in the nearest bushes awaiting their turn. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are frequently seen and heard. Two of them come often to the drinking fountain to bathe or drink. The Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa olivaceu.s) appear occasionally. For three winters I have found the Western Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea obscura), but this year I have not heard its note. We enjoy the song of the Russet-backed Thrush (Hylocichla ustulata ?tstulata) through the summer, ?vhile the Hermit Thrush nmkes itself very much at home about the house during the winter. The first year I was a little vexed when I found the Christmas wreath on the front door minus aH of its