. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. Taken in Fresno County The Oregon Juncoes yourself until such time as the birds are ready to play a game of their own choosing. There is a jovial restlessness about these birds in flock which is contagious. Their every movement is accompanied by a happy titter, and the pursuit of neces- sities is never so stern that a saucy dare from one of their number will not send the whole company off pell- mell like a rout of school-boys. Whenever a Junco star
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. Taken in Fresno County The Oregon Juncoes yourself until such time as the birds are ready to play a game of their own choosing. There is a jovial restlessness about these birds in flock which is contagious. Their every movement is accompanied by a happy titter, and the pursuit of neces- sities is never so stern that a saucy dare from one of their number will not send the whole company off pell- mell like a rout of school-boys. Whenever a Junco starts to wing, it flashes a white signal in the lateral tail-feathers; and this convenient "recognition mark" enables the birds to keep track of each other through- out the maddest gambols in brush-lot or tree-top. In the early days of March the Juncoes gather now and again for a grand concert. The males mount the bush-tops and hold forth in rival strains, while the females lurk under cover and take counsel of their hearts. Junco's song is a sweet little tinkling trill, not very preten- tious, but tender and winsome. Interspersed with this is a variety of sipping and suckling notes, whose uses are hard to discern. Now and then, also, a forcible kissing sound may be heard, evidently a note of repulsion instead of attraction, for it is employed in the breeding season to frighten enemies. During the progress of the concert some dashing young fellow, unable fully to express his emotion in song, runs amuck, and goes charging about through the woodsy mazes in a fine frenzy— without, however, quite spilling his brains. Others catch the excitement and the company breaks up in a mad whirl of amorous pursuit. But before the songs are altogether sung out, or "life's great de- cision" made, the companies begin to climb the hillsides. Up, up they will go with the ascending season, so that Junco's year may be appro- priately described as mountain climbing. Now and again a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
