18 



WOOD NOTES WILD. 



There is no mistake about this being in the major 

 key, and a bit of choice melody. Delivered, as it was, 

 with delightful animation, the effect was cheering to the 

 last degree. Other voices joined, and immediately there 

 was a grand chorus, in which, much to my amusement, 

 the frogs and toads, silent up to this time, took a lively 

 part, not to be outdone by the whole choiring hosts of 

 orioles, catbirds, pewees, sparrows, and other feathered 

 rivals. The only fault with the performance was its 

 brevity ; in a few minutes all was silent as before. The 

 robin sings more hours than almost any other bird. His 

 songs are short and he repeats them many times, but he 

 is by no means stereotyped in his forms ; indeed, he is 

 fair at extemporizing when the mood takes him. A com- 

 mendable variety will be discovered in the annexed 

 melodies. 



