Earliest Signs of Spring 
these birds at sundown, and just before sunrise, 
remind one somewhat of the intoxicated hilar- 
ity of the bobolink; and, in its native land, 
the starling is a favorite caged bird. One 
German naturalist, who confesses, very truly, 
that the natural song of a bird, however simple, 
is commonly far superior to any artificial per- 
formance, says that the starling is an exception 
to the rule, and that his talent for imitating 
every melody and tone-color is marvellous; 
but he adds that it is dangerous to let him 
hear the squeaking of a door, the snarling ofa 
file, or the rasping of a saw, which he is sure 
to pick up and introduce among his more 
melodious effects; which shows that, while he 
knows the perfect technique of his art, he is 
like some other so-called artists, in having 
missed the very soul of it. 
The fascination of all natural research is 
largely in the striking contrasts and uncertain- 
ties always incident thereto. One never knows 
beforehand just where he will catch the snow- 
bird’s modest but delightful tintinnabulation, 
or hear the chickadee’s contagious gayety ring- 
ing through the air. I am utterly weary of 
caged birds: in part, because the very spot 
from which their next song is to come is pre- 
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