26 AVIFAUNA COLUMBIANA. 



Oil the opposite side of the stream the laud is low and rolling, giving 

 a scattered growth of small pines, and cedars, where the Prairie Warb- 

 ler (Dendrceca discolor) may be found without fail. 



"Piuey Branch" comes down between the hills from the northeast, 

 and is wooded clear down to its rocky bed, presenting in many places 

 a tbick undergrowth. Along its course the collector may rely in the 

 spring upon finding both species of Water Thrush (Large-billed, Siurus 

 motacilla, and Small-billed, Siuriis ncevius). 



The fourth section extends from Piney Branch to the mouth of Broad 

 Branch, a little over one mile. 



Although this portion apparently should be as favorable to the pres- 

 ence of birds as some others, presenting very similar surroundings, our 

 experience has been discouraging; but few birds have usually been ob- 

 served. Tins may, however, be explained by tbe fact that it is a favorite 

 resort of numerous picnic parties. 



Following the road up "Broad Branch" — which joins the creek half 

 a mile above Pierce's Mill — we find some of the most beautiful scenery 

 in the limits of the District. The stream has worn for itself a rocky bed 

 along the base of the steep hills which rise to a height of 200 feet above 

 it on the north, while upon the south side they slope back more gently. 

 The scenery is as wild as though untouched by the hand of man, with 

 the exception of the road, and it is hard to realize that one is within 

 three miles of a city of 180,000 inhabitants. 



Professor Ward's fifth section is from the Broad Branch to the Military 

 Poad. He says it is "perhaps the most interesting section of . Bock 

 Creek. On the left bank lie the once noted Crystal Springs, and though 

 the buildings are removed, the springs remain unchanged. . . . 

 On the right bank and above Blagdeu's Mill is a bold bluff in a short 

 bend of the creek, forming a sort of promontory upon which there 

 grows the Gaultheria procumbens, the wintergreen or checkerberry, this 

 being its only known locality within our limits."* 



The sides of the stream are very rugged in places, with broken rocky 

 walls, especially just oppositeBlagden'sMill, where is the "PulpitBock," 

 a flat-topped columnar rock which stands out over the creek at a height 

 of 80 or 100 feet. 



The sixth and last section, extending to the District line, presents 

 nothing of special interest to the ornithologist. 



We have thus, in describing in detail the three regions, namely, the 

 Potomac Piver, the Anacostia Eiver, and the Eock Creek, considered 

 the portions of the District most interesting from the ornithologist's point 

 of view. 



* We would state that formerly the wintergreen conhl lie found on the top of the 

 hill on the east side of Rock Creek just helow the stone quarry mentioned in si>eaking 

 of the "second section." It grew under the laurel, hut as we have not visited 1 1 n > 

 locality for several years we cannot say if it is still to he found there. 



