The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
THE BLACK-HEADED
GROSBECK'S ARRIV Al.
A Study of the Family Affairs Of
Treetop Inhabitants.
The California Canary Is Good House.
Father-Som ething About the
Birds of the City.

sitting behind great clump OF the wav-
ing southern-wood this morning watching
the iabors OF pair of brown towhees to
keep filled four gaping little mouths,
clamorlng in nearby nest, my ears were
suddenly greeted by burst OF melody.
UP, up the scale ran the liquid notes, only
TO fall again in ripping torrent OF sweet
sound that satisfied and delighted the ear
as fresh springwater cools and delights the
throat on hot day. Then UP again sprang
the song to end in the melodious and char
acterlstlc call "Sweet! Sweet Sweet!
Here-l-am Here-I-am Here-Lam"
There was no mistaking it. The black
headed grosbeak had come, and was al
ready engaged in melodious duel with
some rival for from a distant tree I'M
medlately heard the song defiantly an
swered. This is a favorite trick of these
birds. during the mating season. l have
lain by the hour, sheltered in tree, lis
tening, enraptured, to the vocal contests of
two OF them for the favor of demure little
feathered lady who perched upon live
oak bough, looking at and listening to
everything apparently save the songful
rivals who were evidently suing for her
favor.
But where was the chap whose singing
sounded so close at hand? Vainly |
scanned the tall eucalyptus trees on every
side. Right above me l spied an oriole,
worm in beak, lowering fatherlywise over
a perfect beauty of ornitb illogical archi-
lecture. At any other time the sight
would have held me spellbound, but some
thing more wonderful even than this now
claimed my attention. Over by the big
willow caught a flash of black and white
wings, and in another moment l was
snugly established along q thick, low
hanging branch, with my fieldglass lev
eled at the songster. The black headed
grosbeak is rather handsome bird, with
shining black head, an orange-colored
collar and black and white wings. These,
with his heavy olive-colored bill, and,
above all, his clear, loud song, will serve
to Identify him to the most casual OBJ
server. The only other bird he can posi-
bly, be confounded with is the Oregon tow
hee, and, although l know this mistake is
sometimes made, it is not clear to me how
it can be. The Oregon towhee has black
head and the black and white wings, but
he has not the orange-yellow collar of the
grosbeak, and his sides are light chest
nut-brown. His BILL TOO, is slenderer and
black, and there is no music in his soul.
He has only querulous, cat-like, mewing
call, that has won for him the name of the
Oregon catbird.
Farther out upon the branch where the
grosbeak was singing sat the lady of his
choice, this time evidently nsidering
him very seriously. Low he lay along tt
branch, his wings dragging at his side, his
tail slightly spread, his head moving from
side to side in the suggestive, serpent
like way characteristic of birds in court
ship and in com bat, and all the while he
poured forth low, bubbling, tender song,
very different from the clear. loud melody
of a few moments before. There was 1
something so exquisitely loverlike in the
whispered notes that ii is hard to see how
the plain little hen resisted his advances
She did, however, and presently few
away, leaving him dsconsolate.
have never been able to learn Just what
decides the female bird in her acceptance
OF a mate. | have seen one take up with
the victor in combat, and l have known
one to fly off with the vanqushed con-
testant, leaving his rival in victorious pos
session of the field, but minus the lady.
Again, have seen a song-sparrow scorn
the advances OF a perfect specimen OF song
sparrowhood and mate with forlorn