MINOR SONGSTERS. 161 



but although the same has been reported of the 

 bluebird, I have never myself seen such a thing, 

 and am satisfied that, as a rule, this gentle spirit 

 finds a family party of six or seven company 

 enough. His reticence, as we cheerfully admit, 

 is nothing to quarrel with ; it is all well-bred, 

 and not in the least unkindly ; in fact, we like 

 it, on the whole, rather better than the robin's 

 pertness and garrulity ; but, none the less, its 

 natural consequence is that the bird has small 

 concern for musical display. When he sings, 

 it is not to gain applause, but to express his af- 

 fection ; and while, in one aspect of the case, 

 there is nothing out of the way in this, — since 

 bis affection need not be the less deep and true 

 because it is told in few words and with un- 

 adorned phrase, — yet, as I said to begin with, 

 it is hard not to feel that the world is being de- 

 frauded, when for any reason, however amiable, 

 the possessor of such a matchless voice has no 

 ambition to make the most of it. 



It is always a double pleasure to find a plod- 

 ding, humdrum-seeming man with a poet's heart 

 in his breast ; and a little of the same delighted 

 surprise is felt by every one, I imagine, when 

 he learns for the first time that our little brown 

 creeper is a singer. What life could possibly 

 be more prosaic than his ? Day after day, year 

 in and out, he creeps up one tree-trunk after 

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