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July, t9o2. [ THE CONDOR 9 t Bird Studies in Strawberry Valley, Aug. 25--0ct. 25, i9o2. MRS. C. A. MOODY, LOS T the end of a long and dusty stage ride up the mountain road, and several hours after the sun had dropped behind the peaks, we reached this valley--now more widely known as Idyllwild, Among-the-Pines. Naturally, in the morning, our first thought was a mixture of curiosity and a great desire to find out what kind of a place we had come upon in the very heart of the mountains. In a natural park of white oaks and yellow pine trees stands the Idyllwild Sanatorium, having for a picturesque back-ground, the towering granite peaks of the San Jacinto Mts. The lower parts of these mountains are thickly wooded with yellow and sugar pines--each attaining a giant-like size with the growth of many years, while cedars and firs abound tho' by reason of their nature they do not aspire to such dizzy heights. Glimpses of white tents here and there among the trees, give one the impression that out of-door life is much preferred. Very pretty, modern cottages have been erected near the sanatorium, in which are comfortably furnished rooms. Beyond the park, on another ridge, one may find cottages for housekeeping. Our choice was a large tent furnished for housekeeping, and somewhat isolat- ed from the others. It was set just at the edge of a rocky slope, well shaded by white oak trees with a yellow pine or two to keep them company. Down the hill, and across a pasture path,- where sweet ferns, youthful pines and many grasses grew, we found a cool mountain stream, making haste to reach the valley below. Now, I thought, this should be an ideal place for birds; so without much delay my hammock was swung where I could easily look down the hill, and beyond the waving ferns into the shadows cast by the trees along the brook. The red-capped woodpecker was the ANGELES, CAL. first bird to attract my attention. He was, by far, the noisiest bird here and can safely be termed, "monarch of all he surveys," in this immediate neigh- borhood at this time of year. At times, by way of courtesy, he will allow the bluejays a small section of the ground. The smaller birds, however, don't count for much in Mr. Redtop's opinion, for he chases them away quite remorselessly, and goes on with his. hammering. One small boy said, "I should think he would knock out all of his brains" so hard would he pound away sometimes. This California woodpecker is a noticeably showy bird, with his glossy green-black coat, crimson head-dress, and a dash of yellow at his throat. Some think he is a blue-black, but in some lights I found the green luster very clearly brought out. Male and female are much alike in markings, unless possibly the female wears a smaller red cap. His ways of covering a tree when in quest of food is truly ludicrous. Creeping, sliding, gliding up or down the tree seems equally agreeable to him. He rarely comes to the ground, but puts in most of his time drilling through the thick bark of the yellow pine. Sometimes he strikes a choice spot, and there he will cling, serenely sipping something as if it were the "nectar of the gods." The thought came to me that perhaps he had taken to ellewing the pine gum! The jay seen about here,is the blue- fronted jay, known to inhabit the coni- ferous regimes. Male and female have a crest and markings are similar. The light-blue lines which extend up the forehead between the eyes give a very quizzical expression to the bird. At first the jays kept rather quiet and were not much in evidence. One came to inspect, then a few more. ' After a little while I had more jays than I had bar- gained for, feasting at the back of the tent. Bread exposed to the dry moun-