HERMIT THRUSH. 
Some of the themes are in the minor key and some in 
the major; some are plaintive, others are joyous, all are 
melodious; there is no score of the Nightingale which 
can compare with such records as these; notice particu- 
larly the fifth one. It must be remembered, however, 
that bird songs are most ethereal things, a great deal 
like the wonderful tinting and delicate spiral weaving 
in Venetian glass; one must see the color or hear 
the melody in order to fully appreciate its subtile beauty; 
the song is charming because of its spirituality of tone 
and its depth of expression; how can the meagre out- 
lines of music notation convey such truths! Who can 
justly report the Hermit’s song! there is a silvery sus- 
tained tone like that of a flute, then a burst of brilliant 
scintillating music: 
and the song ’s complete, 
With such a wealth of melody sweet 
As never the organ pipe could blow 
And never musician think or know! 
One of the most fantastic and perhaps extraordinary 
themes I ever heard from this Thrush, was obtained late 
in July, in the White Mountains: | 
