BIRDS OF KANSAS. 657 



each side; an indistinct whitish malar stripe. Young: Ahove, dark brownisli 

 or grayish, with conspicuous tear-shaped strea,ks of whitish over whole back, 

 scapulars, etc.; wings (except coverts) and tail as iu adult; beneath, white, the 

 feathers of breast, etc., very broadly bordered with dark grayish or brownish; 

 a whitish orbital ring. {Itulgway.) 



Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws blackish. 



The habits of this well-known species are so familiar to all that 

 no description is needed. I cannot, however, refrain from pre- 

 senting the following, written by Wilson Flagg, in so happy 

 and pleasing a style: 



"Not one of our songsters is so intimately associated with 

 the early spring as the Bluebird, Upon his arrival from his^ 

 winter residence, he never fails to make known his presence by 

 a few melodious notes uttered from some roof or fence in the 

 field or garden. On the earliest morning in April, when we 

 first open our windows to welcome the soft vernal gales, they 

 bear on their wings the sweet strains of the Bluebird. These 

 few notes are associated with all the happy scenes and incidenta 

 that attend the opening of the year. 



"The Bluebird is said to bear a strong resemblance to the 

 English Robin-Kedbreast, similar in form and style, having a. 

 red breast and short tail feathers, with only this manifest differ- 

 ence: that one is olive colored above where the other is blue. 

 But the Bluebird does not equal the Redbreast as a songster. 

 His notes are few and not greatly varied, though sweetly and 

 plaintively modulated, and never loud. On account of their 

 want of variety, they do not enchain the listener; but they con- 

 stitute an important part of they melody of morn, 



"The value of the inferior singers in making up a general 

 chorus is not sufficiently appreciated. In musical composition, 

 as in an anthem or oratorio, though there is a leading part, which 

 is usually the air, that gives character to the whole, yet this 

 leading part would often be a very indifferent piece of melody if 

 performed without its accompaniments; and these alone would 

 seem still more trifling and unimportant. Yet, if the composi- 



