ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 15 



and a night journey away, while the Winter Wren and Carolina 

 argue by his presence that heaven is right in central Illinois. 



Those acquainted with the warblings of his smaller cousins 

 are surprised at the full toned whistle of the Carolina Wren. 

 There are no bird notes of purer quality. His melodious trios 

 mav easily be set to the music staff. Three notes — starting with 

 high "Do" and rapidly falling to "Sol" and then to lower "Do," 

 exactly duplicate his most common offering. Seldom have I 

 heard even in his variations, other than a full true octave of 

 eight notes in limit. Observing with such method so fine a rule 

 in the laws of music, we must admit that the Carolina Wren is a 

 remarkable- bird. He is so enthused with his whistling talent that 

 our Illinois days are not long enough for his rehearsals. At three 

 in the morn before the eastern skies even hint of the approach of 

 a new day, this sweet toned whistle rings out in the darkness. 



The great secret of the ages is recognized by Carolina. Life 

 is all too short to waste any of it in idleness and when this 

 strenous Wren is not singing for his own delectation he is busily 

 attacking the hordes of bugs and worms — inimical agents of the 

 Creator's plan. 



The erratic taste of the Wren family in the choice of nesting 

 sites also prevails as characteristic in the Carolina. Any kind of 

 cavity in stump, fallen log or box is good enough for him pro- 

 viding, of course, that the site is near unto his beloved woodlands. 

 The first nest I remember seeing was stowed away upon the 

 upper joists of a cabin in the woods. Another was in a fallen 

 log while a most interesting home was in a deep cavity in the 

 midst of a standing stump. I found this little female ensconced 

 at the end of a tunnel in the center of the big stump which meas- 

 ured full nine feet in circumference. She felt so secure in this 

 retreat that she would not leave when I peered into the entrance. 

 She merely eyed me as though used to such proceedings. 



The song of Carolina is variously interpreted. To some ears 

 his ejaculations sound like "Jupiter- Jupiter- Jupiter." Some one 

 long years ago translated his song into "Te-kettle-Te-kettle- 

 Te-kettle" and to my mind this version is about as nearly Angli- 

 cized as possible. 



Food to his liking is plentiful, so Carolina follows literally the 

 scriptural injunction to increase and multiply. He begins the 

 ardous task of rearing families early in March and by the time 

 the third family of six or seven youngsters appears in July, his 

 particular part of the woodland might well resemble a Brigham 

 Young estate when school was out. Dwellers near a small patc'i 

 of woods and particularly when near a small running stream 

 mav be assured of a pair of these tenants if a can or small box or 

 empty jug is wisely placed. Save that little patch of grove you 

 had almost decided to raze and turn over to corn rows. Dollars 

 are not the only needful blessings in this modern practical day. 



Isaac E. Hess 



