108 TANGLES OF BIRD-SONG. 



But why did not the rose-breasted grossbeak in 

 the hickoiy-tree join in the chorus ? Why did he 

 maintain such a sullen silence, when we know that 

 he has very superior vocal talents? Was it be- 

 cause he was too proud, and regarded the whole 

 performance as a crude hubbub of sound, in which 

 it would have been absurd for him to take part? 

 He certainly put on a very wise and patronizing 

 air throughout it all. 



By reference to my note-book I find that I was 

 caught in another mesh of bird song and bird 

 prattle on the thirteenth of April, 1890, while 

 sittinsf beneath the trees at the border of the woods 

 of which I have so often spoken. 



" Listen to the woodland chorus," my notes run ; 

 " the turtle doves are cooing their soft, far-away 

 lays ; the blue jays are trilling in their explosive 

 way or calling plaintively ; the robins — how many 

 I cannot tell — are carolling in a ti'ansport ; the 

 tufted titmice are sounding their bugles ; the 

 measured roundelays of the wood sparrows fall 

 sweetly on the ear ; the stentorian reveille of the 

 golden-winged woodpeckers is heard, mingling with 

 their affectionate chattering in the trees ; a chewink 

 sings in a brush-heap ; the sweet quaver of the 

 white-throated sparrows runs like a thread of silver 



