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Jan., 1909 BIRDS OF THE BIG BASIN - 19 followed by cayad, cayad, cayad, or a high pitched keep, keep keep, or kee-lo, kee- lo, sometimes varied to kid, kid, kid. Nor is this all; for this very versatile bird at times breaks into a melodious sort of whistle which, while not of rare beauty, still is easily the equal of some of the birds termed songsters. The noisy California Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi), with their loud, merry cry, yay-cob, yay-cob, yay-cob, were most of the time among the tops of the tallest trees, and here a tall tree means two hundred feet or so. Even from this great hight, however, their loud call resounding thru the woods was all too plainly heard by those who preferred to linger in the misty shades of dream- land in the early morning hours. Here, too, in these great redwood timber lands is the home country of the Point Pinos Junco (Junco hyemalis pinosus). Attractive but rather shy, these little birds were nearly always about the edge of camp, hunting for stray morsels ! AZALEAS IN BIG BASIN Copyrighted in a quiet, unobtrusive way. The snow-bird can make no claim as a songster, yet with its dainty ways and pleasing plumage it is by no means the least interesting of the birds in the great forest. Down along those waterways, the Waddell, Berry Creek and others, that course thru the endless woods, are the haunts of less known forms of bird life. Know you how these silvery streams go laughing thru the forest beautiful? Where great trees line the banks with varied bark effects in grays and browns, and verdant moss-grown rocks and in gayer green the alders, ferns and shrubbery, and azaleas, too, veritable trees! thick with thousands of rich scented, snowy blossoms? This is a fairy land and the home of those leathered fairies, peerless in song, the Winter Wren, Water Ouzel and Hermit Thrush. Nor should comparisons be drawn be- tween their songs; for each in its way is a gem of bird-music. That of the Winte. r Wren cheery, high-keyed and sweet? lends a cha. rm. to every woodland. ramble: the.