176 MINOR SONGSTERS. 



Our familiar and ever-welcome snow-bird, 

 known in some quarters as the black chipping- 

 bird, and often called the black snow-bird, has 

 a long trill, not altogether unlike the common 

 chipper's, but in a much higher key. It is a 

 modest lay, yet doubtless full of meaning ; for 

 the singer takes to the very tip of a tree, and 

 throws his head back in the most approved 

 style. He does his best, at any rate, and so far 

 ranks with the angels ; while, if my testimony 

 can be of any service to him, I am glad to say 

 ('t is too bad the praise is so equivocal) that I 

 have heard many human singers who gave me 

 less pleasure ; and further, that he took &r\ in- 

 dispensable though subordinate part in what 

 was one of the most memorable concerts at 

 which I was ever happy enough to be a listener. 

 This was given some years ago in an old apple- 

 orchard by a flock of fox-colored sparrows, who, 

 perhaps for that occasion only, had the " valua- 

 ble assistance " of a large choir of snow-birds. 

 The latter were twittering in every tree, while 

 to this goodly accompaniment the sparrows 

 were singing their loud, clear, thrush-like song. 

 The combination was felicitous in the extreme. 

 I would go a long way to hear the like again. 



If distinction cannot be attained by one means, 

 who knows but that it may be by another ? It 

 is denied us to be great ? Very well, we can at 



