THK Al'IH BON BlIll.TIX 



much of the dimension timber used in building many of the older houses 

 in Waukegan. 



After the destruction of the pines, the Douglas Brothers, nursery 

 men of Waukegan, used the flats as a place for storage for their surplus 

 stock of evergreens, until such time as thev could deliver the trees. 



Not all of the trees were sold, and a goodly number of voung pines 

 became acclimated and grew to maturity, among them being white, 

 gray or jack, Scotch, Norwav and Table Mountain pines. 



Now, after sixty years, these mature trees are perpetuating themselves 

 through their seedling offspring. 



The pine groves and the adjoining marshes are favorite resorts of a 

 numerous bird host throughout the year, both resident and migrant. 

 Almost everv fall and winter flocks of evening grosbeaks, pinehnches, 

 waxwings, siskins, and crossbills visit the pinery. 



On the day that the frontispiece picture was taken, a small flock of 

 red crossbills was noted, all busily engaged in deftly snipping the pine 

 cone scales and extracting the pine seeds. Occasionally a seed would 

 be dropped and it would spiral down on the wind, landing point down 

 at some distance from the tree, showing very clearly nature's wonder- 

 ful method of distributing pine seed. 



Many water birds nest in the marshy portions of the flats, and a 

 great many shore birds stop during spring and fall migrations. Red- 

 winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, and many sparrows find conditions to 

 their liking for both nesting and food. 



Owing to the isolation of the flats much illegal shooting takes place, 

 but there is a possibility that in the near future this interesting old in- 

 let bed will come under the protection of the Forest Preserve act, by a 

 vote of Lake County. 



Then arose a joyous clamour 



From the wild-fowl on the mere, 



And a voice within cried: ''Listen! 

 Christmas carols even here!" 



-Charles Kingsley 



