14 ; 2. HE AOU D068 OR BU ee 
A Feathered Caruso 
(From a chapter on the Carolina Wren in Hess’ forthcoming book en- 
titled—Mississippi Valley Birds at Home.) 
Carolina is the giant of the eastern branch of the Trogloditae 
or Wren family and a wonderful vocalist. Caruso-like in volume 
and melody, he also exhibits the nervous erratic temperament 
usually stamped so indelibly upon the stars of the stage world. 
Unlike the operatic stellars, however, our Carolina objects to 
the close scrutiny of his admirers. 
Nothing suits him quite so well as to be heard at a distance. 
Even a glimpse of a bird spy stalking him for a nearer approach 
and he is gone with the sauciest flirt of his abbreviated tail. 
Just neough of his neat brown coat is seen to prove aggravating 
to the observer. For a brief period he darts out into the open 
but before the focus of the field glasses may be properly adjusted 
he is back in the brush pile or eclipsed by the old stump. 
Perhaps none but the Chat provokes so many impatient ex- 
clamations from the bird lover so intent upon observing his 
many charms. One characteristic he cannot conceal however, 
his wonderful melodious song. It has never occurred to me that 
Carolina desires to hide this God-given talent under a bushel. 
Did he not thoroughly enjoy sounding out these perfect tones to 
reverberate through the woodlands, he would scarcely be so in- 
cessantly engaged in the pleasing pastime. Privately I think the 
gifted bird realizes his superiority over his feathered neighbors 
and takes a secret delight in silencing the feebler efforts offered 
in his vicinity. 
Again I believe his exceptional modesty is only a bluff. I 
have very good reasons for thinking so. You may test it your- 
self the next time you meet Carolina in the woodlands. I have 
learned to take my share in the game of hide and seek when a 
Carolina Wren gives me the cold shoulder and disappears in the 
underbrush. I have found him saturated with that human weak- 
ness known as curiosity. It is rare fun to beat him at his own 
game when he offers this challenge. When he shows by his 
evident contempt, that the intruder of his domain is so far be- 
neath his notice as to be ignored, stop suddenly and conceal your 
presence. Not many moments will elapse until is heard the 
quick flutter of nervous wings and soon the sharp eyes of the 
little feathered flirt will spy you out. Then again he disappears, 
but you understand him now and may laugh at his pretense. 
As early as February you may hear him trying his vecal 
chords. Carolina does not hurry away to the gulf states at the 
approach of winter. He is another of the hardier birds that 
“pooh-pooh” at applying the term “north” to central Illinois. 
The mooted question as to whether the fortieth parallel of lati- 
tude lies in “Dixie” or north of that land of winter sunshine has 
never been settled by the members of the Wren family. The 
House Wren and Bewick’s insist that the sunny south lies a day 
