LYRISTS OF A SUBURB. 91 



along the fences of which golden-rod and harebells 

 bloom. This field, commonplace as it may seem, 

 contains many specimens of interest to tlie lover of 

 birds, several of which deserve more than a mere 

 passing notice. You would be amused with 

 that delightfully disagreeable musician, the black- 

 throated banting, which may be easily recognized 

 by his yellow breast and the large black patch on 

 his throat, and especially by his harsh, clanging 

 notes. By the way, this bird is called " Dickcissel" 

 in Ridgway's " Manual." The word has no special 

 meaning, and gives but a faint idea of the song of 

 the bird, and yet there is a dash about it thatseems 

 to fit this quaint, nervous - vocalist to perfection ; 

 and the man who first suggested it ought to be 

 awarded a silver medal. Dickcissel is a persistent 

 singer, having an overplus of Yankee stick-to-itive- 

 ness. " Chick^ chick^ che-che-che ! " he rasps over and 

 over again, with now and then a little variation, 

 until you think his throat must be torn to shreds. 

 Now he perches on a low tree, now on a fence 

 stake, and now on the top of a weed. If an 

 opinion were worth anything, I should say that he 

 carries a small iron chain in his windpipe, and 

 rings it so constantly for the sake of the tickling 

 sensation. So anxious is he to maintain his repu- 



