ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 11 



a most interesting sight, frequently lasting without interruption 

 for more than half an hour. 



The woodlands on and adjoining the Mount Forest Preserves 

 are the favorite home in summer of the Scarlet Tanager, Great- 

 crested Flycatcher, Towhee, Woodthrush, Vireos and many of 

 the small Flycatchers. In this region, on account of the unusual 

 plant life, insect life is more than ordinarily plentiful. In the 

 narrow strip of woods between the trolley line and the Alton 

 Railroad are at least three spreading colonies of pawpaws, a 

 southern tree here reaching its northern limit in the county. 

 Here is also a large undergrowth of spice bush. In this restrict- 

 ed area are numerous trees of the chestnut oak, a fine specimen 

 of the shingle oak, many walnuts, black ash, hawthorns, and an 

 unusual growth of fine hard maples, besides wild grapes, wood- 

 bine, pokeberry,- viburnums, prickly ash and other food bearing 

 plants. Across the canal from this preserve and between it and 

 the Desplaines river among the thickets of elderberry and prai- 

 rie rose, the elusive Chat does its housekeeping. Along the river 

 the Black-crowned Night Heron forages through the day, and 

 at night retires to a secluded roost not far distant. 



On the north shore of Lake Michigan the Chickadee nests 

 sparingly. The planting of evergreens in certain suburbs north 

 and west of Chicago in and adjoining Cook County bring down 

 to us each year winter birds from the far north, Pine and Eve- 

 ning Grosbeaks, Crossbills, Bohemian Wax Wings, and the er- 

 ratic Siskin. Out on the wind-swept cornfields flocks of Long- 

 spurs, Snowflakes, Redpolls, and Tree Sparrows rise and sail 

 away when disturbed, like autumn leaves. Just across the coun- 

 ty line in Dupage County, a sheltered prairie pond is visited each 

 year by an astonishing number of ducks, geese, mudhens and 

 other waterfowl. On its shores the Short-eared Owl finds good 

 hunting, and Bitterns and Herons wade in the shallow water, 

 finding food in abundance. 



Within the scope of this article no effort has been made to 

 enumerate the numbers of varieties of birds that may be identi- 

 fied in the county, but rather to set forth the diversified attrac- 

 tions caused by its topography, and its possibilities for bird 

 conservation following the setting aside of the forests as public 

 domain. This will be more evident from year to year, as has 

 been proven by results so far. The opportunities for bird study 

 are so unusual in Cook County, and the woodland tracts so beau- 

 tiful and attractive to visit that all who go to the forest pre- 

 serves should become acquainted with most of our most con- 

 spicuous birds, and develop sufficient interest so that their bird 

 acquaintances would include many of the migrants that stop 

 only in their passage between their summer and winter homes. 



Orpheus Moyer Schantz. 



