294 A MONTH'S MUSIC. 



grosbeaks' own, and that, instead of three, there 

 were at least twice that number of these bril- 

 liant strangers in the grove. Altogether, the 

 half hour was one of very enjoyable excitement ; 

 and wdien, later in the evening, I sat down to 

 my note-book, I started off abruptly in a hor- 

 tatory vein, — " Always take another walk ! " 



In the morning, naturally enough, I again 

 turned my steps toward the chestnut grove. 

 The rose-breasts were still there, and one of them 

 earned my thanks by singing on the wing, fly- 

 ing slowly — half-hovering, as it were — and 

 singing the ordinary song, but more continu- 

 ously than usual. That afternoon one of them 

 was in tune at the same time with a robin, af- 

 fording me the desired opportunity for a direct 

 comparison. "It is really wonderful," my rec- 

 ord says, " how nearly alike the two songs are ; 

 but the robin's tone is plainly inferior, — less 

 mellow and full. In general, too, his strain is 

 pitched higher ; and, what perhaps is the most 

 striking point of difference, it frequently ends 

 with an attempt at a note which is a little out 

 of reach, so that the voice breaks." (This last 

 defect, by the bye, the robin shares with his 

 cousin the wood thrush, as already remarked.) 

 A few days afterwards, to confirm my own im- 

 pression about the likeness of the two songs, I 

 called the attention of a friend with whom I was 



