24 BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



varied. I think tliere may be less difference than is com- 

 monly supposed in the powers of individuals, and that 

 the songs of the same warbler vary with his feelings. 

 If you closely watch one on a tree while singing, he 

 may be observed suddenly to take fliglit, and while pois- 

 ing himseK in the air, though still advancing, to pour out 

 a contiimed strain of melody with all the rapture of a 

 Skylark. 



The male American Linnet is crimson on the head, 

 neck, and throat, dusky on the upper parts of his body, 

 and beneath somewhat straw-colored. It is remarkable 

 that some of the males are wanting in the crimson head 

 and neck, being plainly clad, like the female. These are 

 supposed to be old birds, and the loss of color is attrib- 

 uted to age. I am doubtful of this, for it can hardly 

 be supposed that any bird can escape the gunner long 

 enougli to become gray with age. The only nests of this 

 bird which I have seen were upon spruce-trees. The 

 eggs are of a pale green with dark spots of irregular 

 size. 



THE PEABODY-BIED. 



In the northern parts of New England only are the 

 inhabitants familiar with the habits of tlie Peabody-Bird, 

 or White-throated Sparrow. I have seen it, however, 

 in Cambridii^e ; and durincj a season when the currant- 

 worm was very destructive, one individual came fre- 

 quently into my garden and employed himseK in pick- 

 ing the caterpillars from a row of currant-bushes. As 

 the fruit was tlien ripened, or partially ripe, his appear- 

 ance so late in the season led me to infer that he had 

 probably a nest somewhere in tlie Cambridge woods. 

 This is a large Sparrow, and a very iine singing-bird. 

 Samuels says : " The song of this species is very beauti- 

 ful. It is difficult of descrij^ition, but resembles nearly the 



