And sun-ly iIutc is no om- wIki laii iniit this dainty nionaiili in oni- of 

 his ha|)|)y ninods without payin}^ instant hoinaj^r. \\\> iniptrium is that of the 

 spirit, and those who boast a soul ahovc* the elod must swear feahy to this most 

 dehcatc expression of the creative Inlinite. tliis thought of ( iod made hnninous 

 and vocal, and own him kinjj by rij^ht divine. 



it was only yesterday I saw him, I'"aster day. The significant dawn was 

 stiujj^linf; with jj;reat masses of heajjed-up clouds, the incredulities an<l fears 

 of the world's ni^ht ; but now and again the invincible sun found some tiny 

 rift and poured a flood of tender <jold upon a favored spot where stood some 

 solitary tree or expectant sylvan company. Along the river bank all was still. 

 There were no signs of spring save for the modest springing violet and the pious 

 buckeye, shaking its latc-prisoncd fronds to the morning air, and tidily setting in 

 order its manifold array of I-laster candles. The oak trees were gray and hushed, 

 and the swamp elms held their peace until the fortunes of the morning should be 

 decided. Suddenly from down the ri\er path there came a tiny burst of angel 

 music, the peerless song of the Ruby-crown. Pure, ethereal, without hint of 

 earthly dross or sadness, canu' those lini])i(l. welling notes, the sweetest and the 

 gladdest ever sung — at least by those who have not suffered. It was not, indeed, 

 the greeting of earth to the risen Lord, but rather the ;mniiiui:ition of the glorious 

 fact by heaven's own appointed herald. 



The Ruby-crowned Kinglet has something of the nervousness and vivacity 

 of the typical Wren. It moves restlessly from twig to twig, Hirting its w'ings 

 with a motion too (|uick for the eye to follow, and fre(|uently. uttering a titter 

 of alarm, chit-tit or chit-it-it. During migrations the birds swarm through the 

 tree-tops like Warblers, but are oftener found singly or in small companies in 

 thickets or open clusters of saplings. In such situations they exhibit more or less 

 curiosity, and if one keeps reasonably still he is almost sure to be inspected from 

 a distance not exceeding four or five feet. It is here too that the males are 

 found singing in spring. The bird often begins sotto voce with two or three 

 high squeaks, as though trying to get the pitch down to the range of mortal ears 

 before he gives his full voice. The core of the song is something like "tci\.', tew, 

 tew, tew, sweet to eat, swcet-oo eat," the last phrases being given with a rising 

 inflection, and with an accent of raxishing sweetness. The tones are so pure 

 that they may readily be whistled by the human listener, and a niusical contest 

 provoked in which one is glad to come out second best. 



I once saw a Kinglet in a royal mood. .\ young Ruby-crown was carolling, 

 and (|uite prettily, in the lower jjranchcs of an old oak tree hard by. I was watch- 

 him closely to see if I might catch a glint of red. when uj) darted an old rival 

 and flashed a jewel so dazzling as to fairly smite the eye. Tiie youngling felt 

 the rebuke keenly, and retired in great confusion. It seems that when the bird 

 is angry it has the power of erecting its crest and so unveiling the full glory of 

 the rubv crown. 



91; 



