48 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



even between different species, formed on the 

 northward journey; but it is not often given to 

 the bird student to discover a trysting-place for 

 as many species as we found here. Some were 

 migrants evidently just arrived. Many of them 

 were singing; the others were conversing, one 

 with another; but each in his own way was lift- 

 ing up his voice in glad thanks for a safe return 

 to the Northland, the land of home, of mates 

 and young. 



A lovely rose-breasted grosbeak warbled his 

 very best, — a strong rich lyric unsurpassed by 

 that of any bird in the northern woods,— and 

 two turtle doves, perched on the horizontal limb 

 of a big white poplar, sent their soft love-notes 

 floating down the valley, while a magnificent 

 oriole, probing with his needle-pointed bill 

 among the catkins of a poplar tip, ceased every 

 moment to pipe out his short joyous ditty. 



From all around there came the voices of 

 smaller and less imposing musicians; and there 

 were some who, probably out of respect to their 

 betters, declined to sing at all. A bright little 

 redstart glowed here and there in the sunlight, 

 among half a dozen myrtle warblers. A black 

 and white creeping warbler was observed dart- 



