The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-30

wee brown nestlings. My quail sat and
called for some time, his note growing
more and more impatient, before it finally
dawned upon me that was sitting exactly
in the spot where he and his family and
associates are in the habit of dining off
the grain that is regularly scattered here
for them. Taking the hint, L arose and
moved few feet further down the little
stream. Now, when l left, there was only
this single quail in sight, but had not got
settled in my new position before with a
call and whir of wings four had alighted
on the spot just vacated by me. A little
later two more came. Had this fellow been
posted as sentinel to watch my movements
and notify the others when l should be
gomez 1t looked like it.
Thoreau says that if you will but sit still
in one spot, sooner or later all the life in
the woods will come to you. l sat very
still for some time after changing my
quarters, but no sight or sound of life
came to me. At last l had resort to a
| device. | put the back of my hand to my
lips and kissed it several times resound-
ingly. This, particularly in nesting time,
| never fails to bring the birds if there are
any about. 1t is trick known to most
naturalists. l have often wondered how
the first one discovered it.
| The first creature to investigate the
sound was a humming- bird. These daring
such an occasion. Whether they are more
curious than other birds, or whether their
courage is greater, / know not, but it has
been my experience that whenever take
up station in tree or brush and watch
the birds the first one to return after the
general dispersal caused by my advent is
| nearly certain to be q humming-bird. This
one was ruby throat
| / kept up my cheerful imitation of a
| birding In distress, while the beautiful
| pearl-like bird peered about, darling in
| and out among the branches in search oil
| the chirper. He flew away, only to return
with his mate, scarcely less brilliant than
| himself, and the two actually flew about
my head and for one instant gazed full
into my face, as if to inquire whether had
| swallowed that young bird whose cries
were SO persistent and distressful. Then
| they went and perched upon a branch side
| by side, with their backs toward me, and
had rather a shamefaced feeling that they
| had fathomed my duplicity and were max.
ing remarks expressive of their poor opin-
| ion of me. By this time quite throng Of
birds had gathered in the tree above me.
! There were fully score of goldfinches and
number of sparrows and hycatehers. A
motherly little blueinch hen was in the
greatest apparent distress over the sounds
and investigated an empty nest in an adj
! joining brier, as though suspecting q
| tragedy.
| Finally, in very shame, ceased my call
ing, and presently they all resumed the
absorbing pursuit of insects which my
cries had interrupted.
| never sit and watch wild creatures in
this fashion without feeling as though
were at play. There is something quite
theatrical about the varying scenes that
pass before one if one will but sit quiet.
The next actor in my little drama of the
June twilight was butcher bird. He only
passed by, however. doing a sort of walk.
| ing gentleman" act in the air. His act
however, was full of significance. He was
| flying high above the tree tops, when sud.
denly he made swift dart earthward and
a ground-squirrcl sitting beside his hole
whisked in, with twinkle in his feet, just
in time to escape blow from that power
full BILL
John Burroughs somewhere relates wit
Messing similar action on the part OF q
butcher-bird and attributes it to "a GER
| tain sense of humor' in the creature
| Rather grim humor the ground-squirrel
| would have found it, fancy had he re-
manned to see the sequel of the birds lit
| tie Joke. The butcher bird did not aim
| merely to scare the squirrel. he Is nc