CHARACTER IN FEATHERS. 61 
The happy lovers! They have never read it in 
a book, but it is written on their hearts, — 
‘The gentle law, that each should be 
The other’s heaven and harmony.”’ 
The goldfinch has the advantage of the titmouse 
in several respects, but he lacks that spright- 
liness, that exceeding light-heartedness, which 
is the chickadee’s most endearing characteristic. 
For the sake of a strong contrast, we may 
look next at the brown thrush, known to farm- 
ers as the planting-bird and to ornithologists 
as Harporhynchus rufus ; a staid and solemn 
Puritan, whose creed is the Preacher’s, — “* Van- 
ity of vanities, allis vanity.” No frivolity and 
merry-making for him! After his brief annual 
period of intensely passionate song, he does pen- 
ance for the remainder of the year, — skulking 
about, on the ground or near it, silent and 
gloomy. He seems ever on the watch against 
an enemy, and, unfortunately for his comfort, he 
has nothing of the reckless, bandit spirit, such 
as the jay possesses, which goes to make a mod- 
erate degree of danger almost a pastime. Not 
that he is without courage; when his nest is in 
question he will take great risks ; but in general 
his manner is dispirited, ‘“ sicklied o’er with the 
pale cast of thought.” Evidently he feels 
‘‘ The heavy and the weary weight 
Of all this unintelligible world; ”? 
