2l6 



THE COLUMBIAN HORNED %ARK. 



modulation. altli<» tlu-y (|uitc tli-t'v vocalization; yet sucli arc tlic circumstances 

 attendinf,' its delivery that it is set down hy everyone as "pleasing," wliile 

 for the initiated it possesses a cliarm which is quite unique. 7\i'iti(jc-'>.'iil(/r. 

 7i'idgity, widyy-xvidyc. conveys no idea of tlie tone-(|uality, indeed, but may 

 serve to indicate the proportion and temi)oof the common son};; while T'lVidyc, 

 widyity, I'clnny, ci'lony, idyity. crlooy, tU'ti'. may serve the same ))urpose for 



COI.LMm.V.N noK.VKl) LAKKS. 



the rare ecstasy son^. The liird sometimes sings from a fence |M.)St, a sage 

 I)ush. or even from a iunnniock on tlic ground, hut usually the impulse of sotig 

 takes him up into the free air. Here at almost any hour of the day he may 

 be seen poising at various heights, like a miniature hawk, and sending down 

 tender words of greeting and cheer to the little wife who broods below. 



It is. however, at the sacred hour of sunset that the soul of the heavenly 

 singer takes wing for its ethereal alxxle. The sun is just sinking; the faithful 

 s|)ouse has settled herself to her gentle task for the night; and the bird-man 

 has lain down in the shadow of the fence to gaze at the sla*. The bird gives 

 himself to the buoyant influences of the trembling air and mounts aloft by 

 easy gradations. As he rises he swings nnind iti a wide, loo.se circle, singing 



