JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5 



During the summer, I had become famihar with several new- 

 species of birds (new to me, at least), and I had constantly listened 

 to more bird songs, and been able to place them, than I had 

 expected ever to hear. Perhaps, for that reason, I may have been 

 more alert to quickly note a new song, or the unfamiliar appearance 

 of a bird. However that may be, we all know August to be rather 

 a (juiet month with our song birds, and, as a rule, not many new 

 varieties are looked for. or noted. But in the early morning of 

 August 1 8th, while about my accustomed duties, I occasionally 

 heard at a little distance a decidedly new note. I listened and 

 listened, bvit could not seem to place it. It was a song entirely 

 unfamiliar. 



Later in the forenoon, while watching some young Robins on 

 the piazza of one of my neighbors, who is also interested in birds, 

 I suddenly noticed a clear brown bird alight on the piazza rail, 

 then dive into a thick vine that grew over a trellis at the back door. 

 I exclaimed: "Did you see that brown bird? That was no Spar- 

 row; it had the manners of a Wren, a decidedly heavy white line 

 over the eye, no wing bars or other strong markings, a whitish 

 throat, light breast washed with buffy. Certainl}^ it was not a 

 Winter Wren — too large and different — but I feel sure it was some 

 kind of a Wren!" 



Thus I hastily noted a few characteristics. In a moment it 

 flew a short distance to a thick tangle of bushes and small trees, 

 and upon alighting called out in a wonderfully clear voice the same 

 variation of song I had heard during the early morning, as had also 

 my neighbor. Of course we then knew to whom that exquisite 

 note belonged. 



I was quite excited, and hastened home for my glass, but before 

 I could again reach the bird he had gone on toward Underwood, 

 still calling out the same ringing variation of his song, which to my 

 ear was exactly one form described by Hoffman as "Twip-])ity, 

 twip-pity," always given twice or four times, and, as I later learned, 

 upon alighting in a new spot. Although I followed him, I was 

 unable with my glass to get another glimpse of him, and returned 



