266 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



one would be unlikely to find it. Under the 

 drooping branches of a tiny spruce is a globular 

 mound of dead leaves, with an opening in the 

 side to a cup-like receptacle nicely built of bits 

 of bark and rootlets, in which are five white 

 eggs thickly speckled with brown. The loose 

 construction of the exterior and the character 

 of the material serve well in its concealment, 

 for to the casual observer it has all the ap- 

 pearance of a bunch of leaves tossed together 

 by the wind. Rarely have I seen a more attrac- 

 tive home. Both location and architecture ap- 

 peal to me as being particularly fitting for a 

 ground dweller of the dense forest; and I with- 

 draw with a resolve to secure this leaf-built 

 bower as a souvenir of the woods, after it has 

 served its purpose. 



From this point the trail descends and spruce 

 and cedar appear again. From the thick tops 

 comes the fine, shrill ''wee-see^ wee-see^ wee-see'^'* 

 of the Blackburnian Warbler, the brilliant 

 beauty of his plumage emphasized against the 

 background of sombre green. With the feeling 

 that I can well afford to delay my fishing for a 

 visit with this beautiful little creature, I halt 

 for some time to admire his exquisite coloring 

 and his rather musical song. To add to my keen 

 delight there comes from a thicket near at hand 

 the inimitable song of the Winter Wren. Quite 

 enraptured with the rare beauty of one and the 

 splendid vocal performance of the other, I 

 stand for some time, finally taking up the trail 

 again with a deep sense of gratitude for Nature's 

 lavish bounties. 



