198 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
that in a serene morning, when the wind is hushed, 
and before ‘‘ the busy hum of men” begins, his voice 
may be distinguished at the distance of half a mile; 
the migratory thrush (JT. migratorius), who is an 
early songster, frequently commencing before the 
snow has disappeared, and perching on a stake or 
fence to begin the prelude to the general concert; 
the Baltimore oriole (Oriolus Baltimorus), whose 
notes consist of a clear mellow whistle, repeated at 
short intervals as he gleams among the branches, 
characterized by a certain wild plaintiveness and 
interesting simplicity, like that of a careless plough- 
boy whistling for amusement, and that even among 
the poplars of the American streets, amid the din 
of coaches, and wheelbarrows, and the bawling of 
oyster-women ; the Virginian nightingale (Loma 
cardinalis), who sings from March till September 
with great clearness, melody, vivacity, variety, and 
sprightliness, many of his notes being as loud as 
those of a fife ; and the song sparrow (Fringilla me- 
loda), by far the earliest, the most unwearied, and 
sweetest of the American song-birds, whose notes 
resemble the beginning of the canary’s song. But 
we may mention another instance still more adverse 
to the theory, that, namely, of the ricebird (Emée- 
riza oryzwora), which is found not only in the more 
temperate latitudes, but in Jamaica, and, we believe, 
other tropical localities. His song is highly musi- 
cal; and mounting and hovering on the wing, at a 
small height above ground, he chants out a jingling 
melody of varied notes, as if half a dozen birds were 
Singing together. Some idea may be formed of it 
by striking the high keys of a piano-forte singly and 
quickly, making as many contrasts as possible of 
high and low notes. -Many of the tones are delight- 
ful, but the ear can with difficulty separate them. 
The general effect of the whole is good; and, when 
ten or twelve are singing on the same tree, the con- 
cert is singularly pleasing. These examples are 
