INDEX

Bee-bird, 114-116, 117. catching bees, 114, 115. caught in cobweb rope, 116. defending nest with life, 91-92. domesticity, 116. flycatching, 16, 91, 160. making living off blackbirds, 13. nest, 91. nesting site, 91, 115. noisy, 15. notes, 91, 116. quarrelsome, 91, 115, 116. Bird Psychology, association of ideas, 46, 72, 75, 76, 77, 78, 115, 135, 138, 154, 198. caution, 9, 22, 28, 36, 65, 66, 67, 82, 85, 87, 88, 94, 156, 196, 198, 201, 202, 204. courage, 11-12, 23, 40, 42, 54, 83, 95, 97, 126, 129, 141, 144, 175, 177, 180, 181, 210, 215. curiosity, 25, 97, 100, 151. dissimulation, 45, 49, 62, 190, 215. emotion,— fear, 22, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 46, 61, 67, 71, 73, 81, 87, 88, 105, 133, 135, 154, 164, 177, 180, 191, 215, 218; grief, 46, 47, 92; joy, 30, 204; unusual action under excitement, 30, 58, 63, 64, 81, 87, 88, 191, 208. expression of emotion and ideas,— by use of crests, attitudes, and movements, 8, 9, 11, 16, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 39, 41, 42, 44, 46, 49, 53, 56, 59, 63, 64, 67, 76, 78, 79, 81, 84, 87, 88, 90, 97, 101, 105, 116, 117, 124, 129, 132, 138, 139, 149, 156, 166, 180, 190, 191, 202, 205, 208, 215. By voice,— calls of warning, 5, 42, 53, 85, 197, 198, 201, 202, 203, 209; conversation, 15, 25, 28, 33, 35, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 52, 59, 62, 69, 71, 74, 75, 78, 84, 85, 87, 89, 90, 109, 110, 118, 132, 134, 145, 147, 149, 153, 156, 178, 180, 182, 190, 192; cries of anger, anxiety, distress, fear, pain, 12, 45, 46, 47, 58, 86, 91, 94, 133, 138, 191; exclamations, 44, 58, 61, 87, 115, 116, 124; scoldings, 34, 36, 37, 58, 60, 86, 95, 96, 162, 172, 182; songs of happiness, 8, 10, 15, 21, 22, 52, 59, 82, 83, 84, 90, 93, 95, 96, 97, 122, 126, 142, 169, 175, 178, 198, 205; songs of love, 22, 26, 30, 31, 56, 90, 101, 142, 168, 170, 181, 204, 205, 208. humor, 124. individuality, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16, 22, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 52, 54, 56, 62, 63, 64, 65, 75-80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 111, 115, 124, 125,126, 132, 136, 139, 142, 143, 149, 153, 154, 163, 164, 170, 179, 181, 184, 190, 194, 195, 204, 205, 208, 209, 216-217. inherited instincts, 75, 76, 78, 79, 156. intelligence shown in,— building, 17, 28, 49, 50, 53, 107, 108, 109, 114, 136, 150, 154, 158, 217-218; disciplining young, 85; getting food by others' work, 13; profiting by mistakes, 107, 109, 133, 134, 153-154 (?); protecting young, 8, 9, 12, 36, 37, 85, 135, 156, 191, 215; removing nest from danger, 60, 114, 154; selecting materials for nest, 14, 53, 56, 82, 89, 96, 107, 127, 144, 150, 179, 181; selecting nesting site, 23, 28, 83, 93, 95, 99, 124, 127, 130, 131, 150; silence of young in danger, 71, 85. keen senses, 59, 74, 97. local attachment, 6; special perches, 57, 62, 126, 129, 167, 202, 204, 206. play impulse, 12, 115, 124, 155 (?), 208-209. pride of possession, 25, 86, 115, 204-205. self-denial, 33, 50, 52. Birds, adaptation, 150, 152, 163, 164; protective coloration, 10, 11, 81, 92, 101, 185, 199. domestic life,— accept help in building, 97, 152-153, 175-178, 179-180; affection, 22, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 78, 84, 85, 90, 142, 166, 180, 182, 196, 201, 204, 208; as parents, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 23, 24, 31-38, 46, 55, 63, 64, 69, 84, 85, 87, 88, 110, 111, 129, 135, 137, 154-155, 156, 172, 182, 185-186, 189-193, 215, 217; companionship of mates, 22, 26, 27, 30, 31, 42, 46, 53, 56, 59, 62, 81, 83, 87, 89, 90, 106, 109, 126, 141, 142, 145, 166, 177, 178, 180, 182, 196, 204; coquettish airs, 33; courtship, 31, 90, 101, 148, 149; defense of nest, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 25, 45, 46, 47, 57, 58, 86, 91, 92, 115, 124-125, 138, 141, 178, 182, 204-205, 209; excitement when young hatch, 63; family government, 12, 35, 85, 111, 156; friendly birds shy at nest, 65, 66, 67, 86, 87, 88, 93, 94, 99, 105, 153, 198, 202, 203; —habits of male at nest: absent, 24, 149-155, 167; brings mate food for young, 32, 63; brings material to mate, 50, 52; broods, 43, 44, 62; builds while female looks on or goes off with other females, 199, 200, 203, 204, 207-208; feeds mate, 27, 52, 126, 132, 134, 180, 182; feeds young, 33, 82, 88; guards mate, 27, 42, 53, 201; helps mate build, 48, 50, 52, 61, 106, 108, 109, 126, 135, 142, 145; sings while mate builds and broods, 22, 26, 30, 31, 33, 56, 83, 84, 90, 175, 177, 178; interval between building and brooding, 59, 145, 181; looking for nesting sites, 25, 26, 129, 184-185; lordly airs of male, 25, 115, 116, 117, 172, 208; paternal instinct, 31-33, 53, 63, 191, 204, 205; persistence in work, 60, 107, 178; reluctance to brood, 43, 44; tenderness to young, 23, 33, 84, 85. food,— ants, 76; bees, 114, 115; carrion, 97; cocoons, 100; gophers, 136; grubs, 12, 13, 111; insects, 4, 6, 7, 16, 31, 36, 82, 91, 101, 150, 160; lizards and toads, 99; pepper berries, 197, 198, 201; rats and mice, 137; scale, 103; seeds, 93, 162; snakes, 132; spiders, 31; worms, 12, 13, 57, 164, 182, 185, 186, 190. flight, 5, 7, 16, 17, 24, 30, 81, 91, 98, 99, 103, 115, 118, 147, 149, 153, 156, 161, 166, 168, 184, 195, 196, 197, 209. friendliness when not disturbed, 10, 13, 23, 30, 40, 42, 45, 53, 59, 61, 64, 67, 83, 86, 89, 92, 95, 97, 100, 105, 126, 128, 129, 144, 148, 150-151, 153, 158, 171, 178, 180, 182-183, 185, 186, 197, 200, 201, 204. legends about, 11, 105. local names,— blue jay, 6; burrowing owl, 11; bush-tit, 56; California towhee, 92. neighborly relations, 13, 25, 45-48, 49, 57-61, 62, 80, 86, 96, 100, 108, 115, 116, 124, 125, 126, 130, 138, 147, 171-174, 189-193, 204-205, 208-209. nervousness, 9, 11, 22, 26, 34, 35, 42, 47, 53, 56, 61, 63, 64, 67, 70, 76, 81, 82, 87, 88, 97, 105, 117, 138, 139, 156, 166, 177, 180, 191, 208, 218. Blackbird, Brewer's, 86-88, 117, 128. afraid of a bath, 16. attacking hawks and owls, 135, 139. a jolly colony, 123, 124. building, 124. common in valley, 92. curiosity about road-runner, 100. following plow for grubs, 12, 13. nervousness at nest, 87-88. nesting sites, 86, 124. pranks, 124. repulsing shrike, 124, 125. ruling dooryard, 86. Blackbird, Red-winged, 14. eating grubs in vineyard, 12-13. following plow, 13. nesting in marsh, 118. Blackbird, Rusty, 86. Blackbird, Yellow-headed, in vineyard, 13-14. on mustard, 14. Blackbirds, 15, 114, 118, 120. flocks riding cattle, hogs, and horses, 14. Bluebird, Mexican, 187. nesting site, 185. second nest, 186. Blue Jay. See Jay. Blue Squawker. See Jay. Brown Chippie. See Towhee, California. Bunting, Indigo, 81. Bunting, Lazuli, 81-83, 123, 189-193. call, 190. keeping out of quarrel, 45-46. nest, 82, 216-217. nesting site, 27, 82, 216. song, 6, 44, 83, 117. taking insects to nest, 82. young fed by wren-tit, 189, 190. Bush-tit, California, 28, 56, 59, 103-111, 117, 161, 162, 166. building, 105-107, 108, 110, 184. call notes, 109, 110. common bird, 103. destroys olive scale, 103. legend of firefly lamps, 105. local name, 56. nest, 103, 104, 105. nesting site, 103. nest roof falls in, 106. second nest better built, 107, 109. snake in nest, 108. Butcherbird. See Shrike. Butterflies, migrating, 160. California, southern, 147. colors, 212. marsh in, 118. natural irrigation, 21. sky, 67. Canello, 2. afraid of boggy land, Mexicans, and rattlesnakes, 2-3, 127-128. indifferent to water snakes, 15. made nervous by hummingbird, 7. miring, 17-19. visiting feathered tenants with, 123-139. Chaparral, 5, 6, 55, 61, 94, 100, 103-104, 159, 167, 197, 201. Chaparral cock. See Road-runner. Chat, long-tailed, 163. Chewink. See Towhee. Chickadee, 103, 176. Coast Mountains, 1, 4, 6, 15, 102, 104, 112, 113. valley in, 1, 2, 4, 5, 20, 112. at morning, 5, 68, 112, 137. in evening, 19, 101, 102, 121, 122. under moonlight, 102. Coyote wolves, barking, 91, 102. chasing a dog, 119. in eucalyptus, 214. Crow, killed bee-bird, 92. nest, 212. Dove, Mourning, 21, 118, 141, 161, 169, 219. a gentle pair, 166. brooding, 67. friendliness, 42, 45. nest, 216. nesting site, 40, 166, 216. perches, 57, 160. superior airs of male, 116, 117. timidity, 41, 42. trailing, 215. Eagle, 13. Egret, White, 17. Finch, Western House, 117, 160. avoids shrike neighborhood, 126. bathing, 16. courtship, 90. common birds, 92. discussions, 28. examining wren's nest, 25. implicated in tragedy, 171-174. nesting sites, 90, 96, 172, 186. songs, 90. stealing wren's material, 171. using swallow's nest, 96. Flicker, Red-shafted, 136-137, 160. building, 136. nesting site, 27, 136. notes, 136. works as if wound up, 136. Flowers and Plants, blue sage, 61, 147. chilicothe, 168. dodder, 89-90. 'fly flower,' 160. forget-me-not, 128. mallow, 128. mustard, 14, 67, 119, 123, 127, 147. on border of pond, 15. poison oak, 167. 'poppy,' 160. primrose, 69, 147. wild celery, 120. wild gooseberry, 147. Flycatcher, 140. in chaparral, 6. Fog, 19, 68, 101, 112. Goldfinch, 21, 44, 164, 215, 219. feeding, 7. nest, 23. nest destroyed, 27. nesting site, 184, 186. note, 215. Gnatcatcher, Western, 38-64, 81, 123, 161, 205. building, 48-60, 61, 62. calls, 43, 44, 45. comical parents, 63, 64. defending nest, 45, 57, 58. egg broken by wren-tit, 46. eggshell carried away, 46. feeding young in new way, 63-64. jaunty nervous manners, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 56, 63. nest, 39, 41, 60, 168. nesting site, 39, 48, 60, 61, 167. nest moved, 60. spelling each other, 43, 44, 62. talkative, 41. Gophers, 70, 136. Grosbeak, Black-headed, migrants, 8, 58. song, 170. Grosbeak, Blue, 120. Hangbird. See Bush-tit. Hawk, Buteo, building, 135. more likely to eat gophers than birds, 136. Hawk, Fish, 13. Hawk, Sparrow, 131-135, 136. chased by bee-bird, 91. nesting site, 131. snakes for breakfast, 132. too small a front door, 131-134. Hawks, 16, 86. Heron, Green, 17. Lark, Horned, on roadsides, 10. song, 10. Horse, as help in observing, 3-4, 125, 201-204. How-do-you-do Owl. See Owl, Burrowing. Hummingbird, 147, 186. Hummingbird, Black-chinned, 23-25, 147-158, 161, 202, 217-219. around flowers by house, 88. attacking horse and rider, 7. building, 149-155. call, 153. courtship dance, 149. enter house, 89. feeding from primroses, 69. feeding young, 23, 24, 155, 217. help in cross-fertilization, 150. nest, 23. nest destroyed, 26. nesting sites, 23, 89, 130, 147-148, 155, 158, 161, 217-218. perch, 57, 167. probing tobacco-tree flowers, 88. tremulous moulding, 152. Hummingbird, Rufous, 147. around wild gooseberries, 147, 168. song, 168. Irrigation, natural, 21, 38, 159-160. Jay, California, 59, 61, 84-85, 105, 123, 160, 161. disciplining young, 85. frightening small birds, 28, 58, 60, 84, 141. local name, 6. protecting young, 85. scream, 169, 184. tender to young, 84, 85. Kingbird, Arkansas. See Bee-bird. Cassin's. See Bee-bird. Eastern, 91. Linnet. See Finch. Lions, colts killed by, 30. List of Birds referred to, ix. List of Illustrations, vii. Lizards, as eggers, 28, 150, 200, 203. Magpie, 51, 98. Mexican bridle, 3. Miring, 17-19. Mockingbird, thrasher's resemblance to, 6. Mountain Billy, 20. a good lope, 42-43, 112. a narrow escape, 120. a petted companion, 165, 187. carrying blue gum boughs, 211. carrying a chair, 60-61. enjoying blue gum grove, 214, 218. frightened by deer, 28-30. ignoring snakes, 187-188. improving his time, 68, 69, 114. inventing a fly brush, 54, 55. rolling, 165-166. Mutual help in nature, 150. Nesting season, date in southern California, 21, 30, 67, 69, 86. Nests, broken up, 10, 26, 27, 47, 127, 143, 145, 158, 172, 204, 206, 217. building, hard work, 56, 60, 107. building methods, 49-50, 52-54, 82, 107, 108, 109, 127, 135, 136, 142, 150-154, 158, 175, 199, 200, 203, 204, 205-206, 207. defective building (?), 106. excessive amount of material, 96, 107, 108. knothole entrance too small, 131. materials of first nest used in second, 60, 107, 109-110, 154. moved to safer place, 60, 154. odd situations, 9, 95, 130, 171. protective coloration, 82, 90, 144, 150. rapid building, 108, 206. second, 48 (?), 60, 107, 154, 186. snakes in, 108. third (?), 60. time taken to build, 60. unusual materials, 14, 89, 90. Observing, 1, 2, 40, 60-61, 66, 67, 68, 81, 82, 109, 114, 123, 130, 135, 139, 141, 166, 195, 196, 197, 198, 201-205, 215. assisting in nest building, 97, 109-110, 175-183. delight of finding a new bird, 13. proportion of birds identified without a gun, 2, 140. temptations in, 92, 93, 194. Oden Canyon, 159-160. Oregon Robin, 20. Oriole, 27, 104, 130, 131. Oriole, Arizona Hooded, building, 89. Oriole, Bullock's, 162. attacking an owl, 139. nest, 117. song flight, 184. Owl, 105, 215-216. asleep in window, 137. diet of rats and mice, 137. hiding in wells and mining shafts, 137, 138. Owl, Barn, an old crone, 139. nesting site, 139. Owl, Burrowing, 119, 212. battles with a collie, 11, 12. feeding young, 11, 12. nest not shared with rattlesnakes, 11. screws head off, 11. Owl, Western Horned, devices to protect young, 8, 9. mobbed by neighbors, 138. Pewee, Wood, 161-162. building, 57, 59, 61. nesting site, 57, 60. nest moved, 60. perch, 62, 161. Phainopepla, 194-210. a distinguished bird, 194. building (done by male), 199, 203, 204, 205, 206. call, 205. eating pepper berries in door-yard, 197. nest, 205. nesting site, 199. song, 205. Phœbe, Black, 115, 128-130, 189. brooding under a pump, 129. in the hen-house, 130. nest, 130. nesting site, 117, 128-129, 130. Pipit, American, 16. Pond, made by spring rains, rendezvous of birds, 5, 14-17. Poor-will, Dusky, call, 101-102. flycatching, 101. Quail, Valley, call, 5. flight of covey, 30. in chaparral, 55. in vineyard, 73. tracks, 43. Rabbit, cottontail, 94, 118, 164. jack, 5, 29, 94-95, 97. Road-runner, 98-101. around ranch-house, 100. drowned in windmill tanks, 100. eating with hens, 100. fleetness, 98. hunting cocoons, 100. love call, 101. nest, 99, 216. Robin, 8, 92. Shrike, White-rumped, 124-127, 128. absence of birds in neighborhood, 126. building, 125, 126-127. gentle at nest, 125, 126. invading blackbird premises, 124-125. nest, 125. nesting site, 125, 127. Snakes, gopher, 43, 71, 120, 187-188. racer, 108. rattle, 43, 120, 121, 203. ringed, 55. water, 15. Sparrow, 15. Sparrow, Golden-crowned, 16. Sparrow, Song, 21, 22, 117. nest, 83-84. young, 83. Sparrow, White-crowned, 16, 162. Squirrels, ground, 11. Swallow, 96. Swallow, Eave, drinking on wing, 17. getting mud for nests, 16-17. nests on sycamore, 114. Tanager, Louisiana, 27. a brilliant stranger, 131. Thrasher, California, 163-164. digging with sickle-shaped bill, 163-164. in chaparral, 6. song, 6, 169. straight bills of young, 164. Titmouse, Plain, 141, 184, 175-183. building, 175-182. gladly accepts feathers, 177. needs no horsehair or straw, 179-181. nesting sites, 175. song, 175. Tit, Wren-, 57, 60, 62, 189-193. breaking up gnatcatcher's nest, 45, 46, 48. skulking manners, 49, 59. song, 6, 169. usurping a mother's rights, 189-193. Towhee, California, 28, 46, 47, 57, 58, 59, 92-95, 163, 189, 200. call note, 92. common and tame, 92. nesting, 93, 94. shy at nest, 93-94. song, 93. Towhee, Green-tailed, 162-163. Towhee, Spurred, 18, 160, 162. singing, 169. Trade wind, 68-69. Trees, acacia, 189. elder, 15. eucalyptus, 211-220; character of, 213-214, 219-220; grove, 211-220; raised for fuel, 211. live-oaks, 5, 6, 21, 86, 159-170; garden of, 159-160, 170; sapped by mistletoe, 167. pepper, 197. sycamore, 15, 21, 24-25, 67, 68; the big, 112-122, 159. tobacco, 88. willow, 123. Turkey Buzzard. See Vulture. Turtle Dove. See Dove. Twin Oaks Canyon, 5-6, 159. Ughland Canyon, 21, 38, 123, 159. Vineyard, birds eating grubs in, 12-13. Vireo, Hutton's, 140-146. a devoted pair, 142. building, 142, 145. call note, 145. fond of nest, 143, 145. nest, 144. nesting site, 141, 144. Vireo, Least, song, 6, 44, 169. Vireo, Warbling, 27, 59. building, 56. scolding jay, 60. Vulture, Turkey, 16, 97-98, 162. circle over fighting snakes, 97. eating woodpecker, 70. eating skunk, 201. queer attitude, 98. scavenger, 97. soaring, 97, 98. Warbler, 160. migrants, 6, 7, 123. Waxwing, 69. Whip-poor-will. See Poor-will. Woodpecker, California, 65-80, 81, 123. building, 28. flycatching, 160. hunting ground distant from nest, 69. long intervals in feeding, 69. lying in wait for prey, 141. nesting site, 28, 71. notes, 69. old birds poisoned (?), 70. rescuing the young, 71-73. young orphans, inherited instincts, 75, 76, 78, 79; notes, 78. Woodpecker, Red-headed, 66, 69. Wood rat, in chaparral, 55. Wren, 9-10. Wren, Vigors's, 170-174. linnets quarreling over materials, 171. nesting site, 171. young buried alive by linnets (?), 172-174. Wren, Western House, 20-37, 65, 67, 69, 81, 84, 112, 117, 123, 160, 219. building, 22, 25, 30, 96, 128. common birds, 95. feeding young on insects, 31. nesting takes six weeks, 35. nests in sycamore holes, 22, 128. odd nesting sites, 95. song, 22, 30, 96, 97. tremulous motion of wings, 30, 33. Yellow-bird. See Goldfinch. Young birds, Bluebird, 185. Brewer's Blackbird, 87. Burrowing Owl, 11-12. Bush-tit, 28, 110, 111. California Jay, 85. California Woodpecker, 69-80. feather tracts, 79. fed at long intervals, 155. fed on insects, 31, 36, 76, 82. first flights, 36, 73-74, 88, 156. Gnatcatchers, 63-64. Horned Owl, 9. Hummingbird, 23, 24, 88, 155-157, 217, 219. interest in each other, 78, 79. Lazuli Bunting, 189-193, 217; adopted by wren-tit, 189-193. Mourning Dove, 47. Owl, 137. Sparrow Hawk, 135; subdued on leaving nest, 36; time kept in nest, 69. Titmouse, 182-183. Vigors's Wren, 171, 172, 174. Western House Wren, 33-37.