WOODLAND AND WATER-COURSE. 669 



WOODLAND AND WATER-COURSE. 



Bt HORACE LUNT. 



AN interesting exhibition of a swarm of gnats, just out of their 

 pupal state, playing up and down over a particular stone in the 

 wall like jets of water in a small fountain dispersing instantly as I 

 strike my hands together in their midst, and reappearing over the 

 same stone, again to commence their sport has engaged my attention, 

 and furnished a side-entertainment, so to speak, until a bird-note to 

 which I had never before listened reaches my ear. At first it is heard 

 at a distance, but, as the singer approaches, the strain is rich and clear* 

 and I become absorbed in the melody. Presently a bird flies from the 

 copse yonder to a tree near by, and, with the positions of serenaded 

 and serenader reversed, pours out a heart-song, in six short stanzas, 

 uttered at intervals of half a minute, which is interpreted thus : 



" Chee cheer cheer 

 Chip along cheer cheer ! " 



The words are pronounced with the tongue of a foreigner, it is true, 

 and seem broken ; but, considering the artist's recent arrival from 

 Guatemala, he has succeeded admirably in mastering the language. 

 At first, the song is begun in a low tone, as if the musician were doubt- 

 ful how he might proceed ; but, as he advances, it reaches a rapturous 

 climax, and then falls down into the commonplace, ending almost as it 

 began, faltering and inarticulate. 



Looking up, I see a spot of white, red, and black among the leaves. 

 Although I have seen the bird at a distance many times, this is my 

 first real introduction to the rose-breasted grossbeak. Knowing what 

 he is after, I seek a covert, to allow him free use of the stream, on the 

 banks of which he soon appears, and, wading into the depths, where 

 is reflected the carmine on his front, scoops up with his deep, broad 

 bill the water needed to clear his throat after such a fine performance. 

 He is a rare minstrel in this woodland, and indeed throughout this 

 part of New England, not more than a pair or two appearing or being 

 established in the same locality, which is generally near a stream of 

 water or in the neighborhood of swampy tracts, for these birds are 

 consummate bathers, and love to have houses with convenient bath- 

 rooms attached. 



Passing up the stream, and noting the differently cut patterns of 

 the leaves on shrub and tree, I discover the former home of this singer 

 situated in the central portion of a high, stout cornel, about twenty 

 feet from the ground. It has certainly been rifled, either by oologists 

 young or old, or by the predaceous squirrel ; for this is the season of 

 incubation, and not an egg is to be seen. 



