310 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



poured out often from the rising dawn of day to the ap- 

 proach of evening, and vigorous even during the sultry 

 heat of noon, when most other birds are silent, gives ad- 

 ditional interest to this little vocalist. While chanting 

 forth his easy, flowing, tender airs, apparently without 

 effort, so contrasted with the interrupted emphatical song 

 of the Red-Eye, he is gliding along the thick and leafy 

 branches of our majestic Elms, and tallest trees, busied in 

 quest of his restless insect prey. With us, as in Penn- 

 sylvania, the species is almost wholly confined to our vil- 

 lages, and even cities. They are rarely ever observed in 

 the woods ; but from the tall trees which decorate the 

 streets and lanes, the almost invisible musician, secured 

 from the enemies of the forest, is heard to cheer the 

 house and cottage with his untiring song. As late as 

 the 2d of October I still distinguished his tuneful voice, 

 from amidst the yellow fading leaves of the linden, near 

 which he had passed away the summer. The approach- 

 ing dissolution of those delightful connexions, which 

 had been cemented by affection, and the cheerless still- 

 ness of autumn, still called up a feeble and plaintive 

 reverie. Some days after this late period, warmed by 

 the mild rays of the morning sun, I heard, as it were, 

 faintly warbled, a parting whisper ; and about the middle 

 of this month, our vocal woods and fields were once 

 more left in dreary silence. 



" And through the sadden'd grove [now] scarce is heard 

 One dying strain, to cheer the woodman's toil. 

 While congregated Thrushes, Linnets, Larks, 

 And each wild throat, whose artless strains so late 

 Swell'd all the music of the swarming shades, 

 Robb'd of their tuneful [songs], now shivering sit 

 On the dead tree, a dull, despondent flock ; 

 With nought save [plaintive] discord in their note." 



