312 THE WESTERN WINTER WREN. 
In winter, because of heavy snows, the birds appear to retire to a large 
extent upon the valleys and lowlands, nor do they appear to reoccupy the 
mountain forests until they have reared a first brood upon the lower levels. 
Just how familiar a species this bird is at sea-level does not appear to be gen- 
erally realized. In the spring of 1905 I estimated that forty pairs were nest- 
ing in Ravenna Park 
alone. Nor do they 
by any means desert 
the lowlands in toto 
in summer, for they 
are seen regularly at 
that season thruout 
Puget Sound, upon 
the islands of Wash- 
ington Sound, and 
upon the West Coast. 
It is the Winter 
Wren, chiefly, which 
gladdens the depths 
of the ancient forest 
with music. Partly 
because of its unique 
isolation, but more 
because of the joy- 
ous abandon of the 
little singer, the song 
of the Winter Wren 
strikes the bird-lover 
as being one of the 
most refreshing in 
the Northwest. It 
consists of a rapid 
series of gurgling 
notes and wanton 
trills, not very loud 
nor of great variety, 
but having all the 
spontaneity of bub- 
bling water, a tiny cascade of song in a waste of silence. The song 
comes always as an outburst, as tho some mechanical obstruction had 
given way before the pent-up music. Indeed, one bird I heard at Moclips 
preceded his song with a series of tittering notes, which struck me 
Taken in Seattle Photo by the Author. 
A THICKET IN RAVENNA PARK, 
WHICH ONLY THE WINTER WREN WILL EXPLORE, 
