. Birds of California; an introduction to more than three hundred common birds of the state and adjacent islands, with a supplementary list of rare migrants, accidental visitants, and hypothetical subspecies . oflove let loose in music. But alas forsentiment! No sooner is one round fin-the singer turns his atten-tion to feeding on theyoung buds nearest to him,sometimes even interrupt-ing his song to seize anespecially tempting ^ And so it is through-x/:% • out the long brightday, — he stops eat-ing to break into singing, and pausesin his finest carol to finish a meal, flit-ting from tr
. Birds of California; an introduction to more than three hundred common birds of the state and adjacent islands, with a supplementary list of rare migrants, accidental visitants, and hypothetical subspecies . oflove let loose in music. But alas forsentiment! No sooner is one round fin-the singer turns his atten-tion to feeding on theyoung buds nearest to him,sometimes even interrupt-ing his song to seize anespecially tempting ^ And so it is through-x/:% • out the long brightday, — he stops eat-ing to break into singing, and pausesin his finest carol to finish a meal, flit-ting from tree to tree and daintily feastingupon the tender terminal buds. No doubtthis may be a disadvantage to the tree, butwhen we see him industriously clearing apotato field of the pest known as potatobug, and singing gayly as he works, weforgive him all the harm he has done toour pet fruit tree. It is impossible towatch him for one hour without becominghis loyal defender. Although a ratherclumsy looking bird, his attitudes are alwayspleasing. He leans forward to reach,,..,., , a sprig beneath him much as a cross- Hu htlte brown throat L ° wetting with mmic. j>ill feecjs ou a conej or jje gtands erect. 596 Black-headedGkosbeak. WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 265 with the sunlight bringing out the strong contrasts in hisplumage, and his little brown throat swelling with music;or, in masculine awkwardness, he tries to cover the eggswhile his mate is enjoying a vacation. Nearly half of thedaylight hours he takes her place, but at night it is themother who broods. Often when the female has beengone a long time he calls her, coaxingly, querulously, andat last imperatively, but I have never seen him leave untilshe had returned. This constant care enables the Gros-beaks to defend their brood from the feathered kidnap-pers ; and it is very necessary, for the nests are exposedto view from above. After a rest, when the mother hascome to the nest again and settled herself comfortablywith much
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwhee, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds
