5o THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



common with her kind, she came close, seeking some- 

 thing to eat. Three eggs were in the nest, though 

 it was February. Never before had I found a bird 

 nesting in the famine month of the year. These 

 eggs may not have hatched, but another time I 

 saw a nest of this species in March with eggs that 

 did hatch. April is the nesting time for this bird. 

 Why a pair sometimes nest unusually early is their 

 secret. 



I found the crested jay, that flings forth its jarring 

 note as harsh and cold as frosty steel, using these 

 mountains for winter quarters. A few of this 

 species remain for the summer, but the majority 

 nest farther north. The water ouzel is a winter 

 songster, and twice during this outing, in a snow- 

 filled canon, he sang to me cheerily. He may be 

 seen and heard in any month of the year. This 

 bird of quiet, cheering presence is an outdoor 

 enthusiast. He was always delightfully busy, and 

 indifferent to my close approach if I came quietly 

 and slowly. 



The scarlet berries and small, shining green 

 leaves of the kinnikinick gave colour and charm to 

 many snowy places. Half buried in the snow, in 

 the sun or shadow, in niches of crags, or as wreath- 

 like coverings for the rocks, they were bright and 

 cheerful everywhere. 



I can imagine that the winter birds and animals 

 worship the chinook wind. One evening I went 

 to sleep shivering. I was awakened through being 



