12 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



rest of the covey whistled the conventional bob-while that we are all so 

 familiar with. 



The lisping call of the Carolina chickadee was occasionally heard, 

 and once in a "basement" — narrow valley, — the roll of the pileated wood- 

 pecker was heard but at so great a distance that we failed to see the 

 drummer. In 1918 bluegray gnatcatchers were very common and sang 

 almost as incessantly as chipping sparrows, Many of our well known 

 friends, song, chipping and field sparrows, several vireos, the cardinal 

 and indigo bunting were frequently seen and heard in the open spaces. 



On the higher slopes and feeding in the tree tops, Cairn's warbler, 

 the southern type of the black-throated blue warbler could be heard sing- 

 ing while feeding, with quite as much persistence as the red-eyed vireo, and 

 one memorable forenoon while exploring a grove of giant tulip and buck- 

 eye trees miles up Norton creek, I was discovered by a pair of gorgeous 

 Kentucky warblers. They were not at all timid and showed a curiosity 

 worthy of our chickadee. At intervals the male favored me with his rich 

 ringing song. As I was not "really bird hunting", I no doubt missed see- 

 ing other warblers as it was ideal warbler country. 



On the day of my one ambitious climb to the top of Rocky Spur, 

 which is one of the higher peaks joining Le Conte mountain (6500 feet), 

 and itself "up in the clouds", we passed through a great forest of southern 

 hemlock, chestnut, oaks and buckeyes, up into the haunts of the black 

 bear and the rattlesnake, through rhododendron "slicks", past wonderful 

 flaming azaleas, and through acres of galax with its dainty spikes of tiny 

 white blossoms, where tree trunks were so covered with moss that polypody 

 and spinulose shield ferns grew freely on the perpendicular sides of the 

 trees supported entirely by the moss. 



Among the rocks were stalks of wood-lilies not yet in blossom, six to 

 eight feet in height. Near the summit the vegetation became dwarfed 

 and so dense that the last few hundred yards were only possible by crawl- 

 ing on hands and knees through the bear tunnels. 



Almost the first thing noticed after reaching the summit of Rocky 

 spur was a "joree bird," — chewink — , then a baltimore oriole and three 

 chimney swifts were seen, which completed the bird list for the day. 



The great height of the trees makes bird identification difficult unless one 

 is thoroughly familiar with their songs. On the lower slopes, in the clear- 

 ings, and along the many mountain streams systematic bird hunting with 

 binoculars would no doubt yield very satisfacory lists. 



In the Smokies the rugged and isolated mountain regions will remain 

 for all time an ideal home for many of our more rare birds. 



The rough character of the country will keep out all but the hardy 

 and vigorous out-of-door enthusiasts, even though highways may cross 

 the higher mountains in the future. Nature has effectually protected this 

 wonderful country for a time at least by her planning of the mountains. 



Orpheus Moyer Schantz. 



