A DWELLER OF THE SHADED WOODLANDS

In the deep shade of the forest trails song birds are rare. The most common and finest song of the deep woods is the Western Winter Wren, smallest of our wrens. Just at present -- the nesting season -- there is a continuous concert along the trails leading through the forest. So small, quiet and subdued in color is this wren that although quite plentiful in the lower regions of the Park he is seldom noticed by the casual observer. His habit of creeping about the roots and limbs of fallen logs with quick, bobbing movements and almost complete silence does not attract notice.

But at this season of the year his happiness seems so complete that he must herald it to the forest depths and we invariably find him on the top of some snag or similar commanding position. His vocal powers are truly wonderful for so small a bird. His song, although continuous, is jerky dying down as if about to cease then bursting into full vigor again. The surprising thing about its song is its volume, being as great as birds twice its size. One can hardly believe as he watches him that so tiny a bird can produce the song he hears.

The birds nest under longs or roots in deep woods. The Naturalist at Longmire was fortunate enough to find four young birds just out of the nest. They flew up from the trail at our feet and became scattered but the mother bird soon called them all together again.

Charles Landes, Ranger-
Naturalist.