Notes on the Summer Birds of Lehigh Gap, 

 Pennsylvania 



BY JAMES A. G. REHN. 



The Blue Ridge of central eastern Pennsylvania is a rather 

 uniform mountain range of an average elevation of about twelve 

 liundrecl feet above sea-level, though rising here and there into 

 rounded domes some three hundred feet higher. As is well 

 known, the larger streams of this section of the country follow 

 courses all more or less at right angles to the general trend of 

 this outpost ridge of the Appalachian system. Of the several 

 breaks in the chain caused by or utilized for the passage of 

 streams, the most noted is the Delaware Water Gap, but prob- 

 ably none present more beautiful surroundings or a more desir- 

 able and secluded spot for the nature student than that known 

 as Lehigh Gap. There the writer has spent a number of pleas- 

 ant days during six visits covering a period of three years. 



The Lehigh Gap region may be called the corner-stone of 

 three counties, as to the northwest of the ridge stretches Carbon 

 County, while on the southeast the Lehigh river separates the 

 counties of Northampton and Lehigh. The small village of 

 Lehigh Gap nestles directly at the foot of the Blue Ridge on the 

 south side of the river, and is distant about two miles from the 

 important town of Slatington. Near this place the writer re- 

 sided and here many of the following observations were made. 

 Lehigh Gajj, Carbon county (also known as Palmerton), is sit- 

 uated on the north shore of the river and has recently assumed 

 commercial importance due to its rather extensive zinc plant. 



The Lehigh river receives an affluent from the southwest, 

 about three miles above the Gap, which is known as Lizard 

 creek. Immediately to the north of the mountains the stream 

 is further recruited by the beautiful Aquanchicola creek. This 

 latter stream meanders close to the foot of the Blue Ridge, and 



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