The Birds' Calendar 



it, and there is much the same difference, there- 

 fore, between this and all other birds, that 

 one finds between the human voice and all 

 instruments of human contrivance. Such a 

 combination of apparently contrary qualities — 

 so mellow and yet so metallic, so liquid and 

 luscious, and yet so full and sonorous — is not 

 remotely approached, is not even suggested, by 

 any other of our birds. Such a voice was one 

 of the happiest thoughts of the Creator, and we 

 might say of it as someone remarked of the 

 strawberry: " Doubtless the Lord might have 

 made a better berry, but doubtless the Lord 

 never did." 



There is one thing in regard to the robin 

 that seems worthy of mention, especially as I 

 have never seen it alluded to, viz., its call-note, 

 in the variety of its expression. I know of no 

 other bird that is able to give so many shades 

 of meaning to a single tone, running through 

 the entire gamut of its possible feelings. From 

 the soft and mellow quality, almost as coaxing 

 as a dove's note, with which it encourages its 

 young when just out of the nest, the tone with 

 minute gradations becomes more vehement, and 

 then harsh and with quickened reiteration, un- 

 til it expresses the greatest intensity of a bird's 



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