. 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 FOR MYSELF I confess an ex- travagant affection for the Shore- birds. It cannot be merely because they are so demure, so shy, or so gracefully engaging. Some of them are grotesque, some timorous to a fault, and some frankly hostile. Nevertheless, we get along famously. It must be because we love pretty much the same things, especially the shifting, thousand-toned sands, the impartiality of the tide, the ceaseless murmur of the waves, and the
. 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 FOR MYSELF I confess an ex- travagant affection for the Shore- birds. It cannot be merely because they are so demure, so shy, or so gracefully engaging. Some of them are grotesque, some timorous to a fault, and some frankly hostile. Nevertheless, we get along famously. It must be because we love pretty much the same things, especially the shifting, thousand-toned sands, the impartiality of the tide, the ceaseless murmur of the waves, and the mys- terious edge of the world—the meet- ing place of reality and romance. Anyhow, I love the Sanderlings, and the grey, shy, silent Plovers, and the sanctimonious Godwits,—homeless, careless, happy wanderers, every one. The Californian's knowledge of the Marbled God wit is likely to con- sist of a series of snapshots taken along the beach or on the flooded meadows of some shooting club. Four such pictures come to me out of the teeming records: A group of eleven birds is ranged along the water's edge in such fashion that every motion is silhou- etted against the gleaming sand. Sand-fleas, which, as the dictionary solemnly informs us, are amphipod crustaceans, are the order of the day. Strange posturings,—kiwi poses,open chopsticks, and figures of four— characterize the quest. The sand- fleas are not allowed to remain secure in their deep-dug wells, but are ruthlessly dragged out and swallowed in swift succession. As I approach, up-beach, there are signs of uneasiness, but a bevy of Turnstones, which I have been disciplining with the camera, settles among them and restores confidence. A few pause for meditation or digestion, while their companions continue their labors. Altogether 1260 GOOD WIGHT Photo by the Author. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
