56 BY-WAYVS AND BIRD-NOTES. 
dreamy horizon. None but the most master- 
ful genius would have been able to keep up to 
the sweet, quiet key of the coloring, and yet be 
satisfied with the tender, wavering outlines and 
the soft, transparent shadows. The liquid 
tones of sound and color in the brook came so 
harmoniously to my senses, along with the 
motion of swaying flags and bubble-beaded 
waves, that the graceful bird, seen through 
half closed eyes, appeared to be a half-fanciful 
embodiment of the spirit of calm delight, knee- 
deep in some tide of enchantment or romance. 
(Looking back over this last sentence I recog- 
nize its weakness, but must wilfully let it go, 
for it comes very near expressing one phase of 
the view.) Nature is rarely either famboyant 
or grisdtre, but keeps well the golden mean. 
But, to return to the motions of birds, how 
perfectly in keeping with the broad expanse of 
sky and the movements of the clouds is the 
sailing-of the great-winged hawks and vultures! 
I have watched the swallow-tailed hawks of 
the South sailing so high that they appeared to 
be sliding against the sky. No labored move- 
ments there; those wings were far above the 
difficulties that beset our earth, and were 
spread on heavenly tides. Even the obscene 
turkey-buzzard, when it has reached a great 
altitude, and is moving so smoothly and 
dreamily between us and the empyrean, be- 
comes an object of respect; we forget its vul- 
garity, as we do that of men who have mounted 
on the wings of genius, bearing their depravi- 
ties into the rare atmosphere of exalted art. 
The albatross, that prince of the sea-winds, 
seems a part of the fleece-clouds and the sky. 
The flamingoes, the pelicans, the gulls—all 
