THE WILDERNESS IN JUNE 263 



foliagcd branches that the sun rays scarcely 

 penetrate. The result is a subdued atmosphere, 

 a half light as it were, in which the large boles 

 stand grim and gray like the towering columns 

 of some ancient temple. The general effect is 

 that of a vast park in which one's range of vision 

 is unobstructed for long distances. 



From the start my presence is signaled by 

 bird notes. In the lower reaches of the trail 

 Veery and Olive-backed Thrush announce my 

 coming by call notes somewhat inquisitive if not 

 altogether interrogative, and I catch occasional 

 glimpses of their sober-clad forms as they silent- 

 ly change positions, the better to inspect the in- 

 truder. Then a Chickadee cheerily declares his 

 identity, and if I am not mistaken, there is a 

 note of wx4come in his strain. A Redstart 

 quickly voices the alarm, a Magnolia Warbler 

 pipes his musical lay, and there come to my ear 

 the droning notes of the Black-throated Green, 

 more melodious than the utterances of many of 

 his numerous relatives. The news of my coming 

 is proclaimed from treetop to treetop by these 

 feathered sentinels as I advance, and there 

 comes to mind the old signal towers along the 

 rocky headlands of the Spanish Coast from 

 which the Moors by beacon fires flashed im- 

 portant news for hundreds of miles. 



Soon the Teacher Birds take up the alarm and 

 on all sides I am announced in energetic tones, 

 the shrill notes ringing through the forest aisles 

 in crescendo strains, emphatically declaring me 

 the particular exponent of education whose 

 coming they have so long heralded. 



