44 Trans. Acad. ISci. of St. Louis 



■woods, where it loves to liidc iiiidiT the exposed roots of 

 trees. In inierration it lias visited wood j)iles and brush 

 heaps in ])()puhited ])laeos, ])nt as a rule it seeks the re- 

 tirement of the forest. 



The Bewick's Wren, whose summer home is chiedy 

 south of the Missouri River, while that of the AVinter 

 Wren is in the north, is sometimes found in winter in the 

 suburbs of St. Louis. The Carolina Wren used to be one 

 of our conspicuous birds in \nnter. Its loud whistle was 

 one of the lirst sounds we heard on entering its haunts. 

 The species was known as a most faithful ])eniianent resi- 

 dent, Itcing found at its breeding stand all the year round. 

 It is only since the unusually severe winter of 1917-18 

 that Carolina AVrens have become scarce, and in fact in 

 most places where it was known to occur for many years 

 it is totally absent since then. 



A really dainty little bird to be met with in oui- woods 

 in winter is the (Jolden-cresteil Kinglet. It is a hardier 

 species than its cousin, the Kuby-crowned Kinglet, which 

 is with us in si)ring and fall. The Golden-crested has two 

 black stripes on the head enclosing a yellow stripe, which 

 in the old male has a scarlet center. It is not alwavs easv 

 to get a good view of these markings, as the little fellow 

 is in almost ])erpetual motion. Tii migration they occur 

 in small trooj)s by themselves, but in winter we find them 

 usually in company of Titmice. Their soft "see, see, see" 

 and sprightly actions show they are always in the best of 

 spirits. Their sunnner home is mainly north of the 

 United States, but we find them breeding in the moun- 

 tains of the Atlantic States and in the West. Tn Europe, 

 which has nothing like our lluinniingbird, two sjiecies of 

 Kinglets are the smallest birds known. 



J31ue.jays are not as i)lentiful in winter in our neighbor- 

 hood as some seem to think. They are rather few in 

 number, but by many jK'oj^le oftener seen in winter than 

 in simuner, because they come into our very yards in the 

 city to gather food from the garbage ]iail and chicken 



