THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 33 



habits being found in the INIiddle and Eastern ^States, 

 during the [>ei"iod of song, only in the derpo.st and 

 most remote forests, usually in damp and swampy 

 h)calities. On this account the people in the Adiroii- 

 iac region call it the " Swamp Angel." Its beiuii 

 Bo much of a recluse accounts for the comparative ig- 

 norance that prevails in regard to it. 



The cast of its song is very much like that of the 

 wood-thrush, and a good observer might easily con- 

 found the two. But hear them together and the dif- 

 ference is quite marked : the song of the hermit is in 

 a higher key, and is more wild and ethereal. His 

 instrument is a silver horn which he winds in the 

 most solitary places. The song of the wood-thrush 

 is more golden and leisurely. Its tone comes near to 

 that of some rare stringed instrument. One feela 

 that perhaps the wood-thrush has more compass and 

 power, if he would only let himself out, but on the 

 whole he comes a little short of the pure, serene, 

 hymn-like strain of the hermit. 



Yet those who have heard only the wood-thrush 

 may well place him first on the list. He is truly a 

 royal minstrel, and considering his liberal distribu- 

 tion throughout our Atlantic seaboard, perhaps con- 

 tributes more than any other bird to our sylvan mel- 

 ody. One may object that he spends a little too 

 touch time in tuning his instrument, yet his careless 

 ftnd uncertain touches reveal its rare compass and 

 power. 



He is the only songster of my acquaintance, ex 



