MINOR SONGSTERS. 177 



least try the effect of a little originality. Some- 

 thing like this seems to be the philosophy of the 

 indigo-bird ; and he carries it out both in dress 

 and in song. As we have said already, it is usual 

 for birds to reserve the loudest and most taking 

 parts of their music for the close, though it may 

 be doubted whether they have any intelligent 

 purpose in so doing. Indeed, the apprehension 

 of a great general truth such as lies at the basis 

 of this well-nigh universal habit, — the truth, 

 namely, that everything depends upon the im- 

 pression finally left on the hearer's mind ; that 

 to end with some grand burst, or with some 

 surprisingly lofty note, is the only, or to speak 

 cautiously, the principal, requisite to a really 

 great musical performance, — the intelligent 

 grasp of such a truth as this, I say, seems to me 

 to lie beyond the measure of a bird's capacity 

 in the present stage of his development. Be 

 this as it may, however, it is noteworthy that 

 the indigo-bird exactly reverses the common 

 plan. He begins at his loudest and spright- 

 liest, and then runs off into a diminuendo^ which 

 fades into silence almost imperceptibly. The 

 strain will never be renowned for its beauty ; 

 but it is unique, and, further, is continued well 

 into August. Moreover, — and this adds grace 

 to the most ordinary song, — it is often let fall 

 while the bird is on the wing. 



12 



