August 



the peculiarly erect position of all fly catchers, 

 presenting a very spruce appearance. It has 

 an interesting and unusual method of bathing. 

 Instead of standing in shallow water and dip- 

 ping itself, like other birds, it flies from its 

 perch directly into the stream, dashing the 

 water over its back, returning to its place, and 

 repeating the performance several times. A 

 pair of them could be often seen performing 

 their ablutions in the stream I so often visited. 



One could hardly enjoy a gentler call from 

 slumber than the soft, delicious warble of the 

 bluebird, as it often came in at my window at 

 early dawn. It requires no imagination to see in 

 this bird nature's type of a meek and quiet spirit. 

 If the king-bird is one of the chief sinners, the 

 bluebird certainly ranks among the highest of 

 the feathered saints — a Nathaniel indeed, in 

 whom is no guile. Its mellow, coaxing love- 

 note is one of the most affectionate sounds in 

 nature, and matches the delicate gentleness of 

 its ways, making it the favorite alike of poet and 

 peasant. Passing from the atmosphere of other 

 birds to this is like the quick transition from 

 the noisy cataract to the restfulness of the deep 



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