The illustrations are from drawings of birds and nests by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and from photographs taken in the valley; together with some of eucalyptus-trees from Los Angeles, for the use of which I am indebted to the courtesy of Dr. B. E. Fernow, Chief of the Division of Forestry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
In the preparation of the book I have been kindly assisted by Miss Isabel Eaton, and have received from my brother, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, untiring criticism and advice.
FLORENCE A. MERRIAM.
Locust Grove, N. Y.,
July 15, 1896.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | ||
| I. | Our Valley | [1] |
| II. | The Little Lover | [20] |
| III. | Like a Thief in the Night | [38] |
| IV. | Was it a Sequel? | [48] |
| V. | Little Prisoners in the Tower | [65] |
| VI. | Hints by the Way | [81] |
| VII. | Around our Ranch-house | [86] |
| VIII. | Pocket Makers | [103] |
| IX. | The Big Sycamore | [112] |
| X. | Among my Tenants | [123] |
| XI. | An Unnamed Bird | [140] |
| XII. | Hummers | [147] |
| XIII. | In the Shade of the Oaks | [159] |
| XIV. | A Mysterious Tragedy | [171] |
| XV. | How I helped build a Nest | [175] |
| XVI. | In our Neighbor's Door-yard | [184] |
| XVII. | Which was the Mother Bird? | [189] |
| XVIII. | A Rare Bird | [194] |
| XIX. | My Blue Gum Grove | [211] |