THE WILDERNESS IN JUNE 249 



On the evening of my arrival here, among the 

 many songs that greeted me was one that in- 

 stantly attracted my attention as being un- 

 familiar, remarkable for the variety of its notes. 

 It was so unlike all the utterances of the nu- 

 merous Warblers about the clearing that an in- 

 tense desire seized me to immediately identify 

 this woodland wonder. Such was the beginning 

 of a search that lasted many days. 



In the attempt to identify this bird, daily 

 trips were made, sometimes covering several 

 miles, and never did I return without having 

 heard the song, but the singer eluded my sight. 

 Yet they were numerous, and at times one sang 

 just back of my cabin; but when I entered the 

 thicket he at once withdrew, slowly retreating 

 as I advanced until after an hour's tramp in the 

 tangled maze, I gave up the quest and sat down 

 with the hope that he would return within 

 range of my vision. He returned, but by another 

 route, and again I was baffled. 



One day while fishing the river, the elusive 

 melody came from the far shore and I thought 

 that this time he could not possibly escape me, 

 for the mountain rose almost sheer from the 

 river bank. Quickly wading the stream I ap- 

 proached the spot whence the sound had issued, 

 and after a moment's silence, from far up the 

 steep cliff floated down the tantalizing song. 

 Along the trail, by the pond site, up river and 

 down, in short, wherever there is a tangle of 

 cedar, mountain ash, and swamp maple, I 

 heard him, but so successfully did he escape my 

 eager search that not even a glimpse of him did 



