August 
the peculiarly erect position of all fly catchers, 
presenting a very spruce appearance. It has 
an interesting and unusual method of bathing. 
Instead of standing in shallow water and dip- 
ping itself, like other birds, it flies from its 
perch directly into the stream, dashing the 
water over its back, returning to its place, and 
repeating the performance several times. A 
pair of them could be often seen performing 
their ablutions in the stream I so often visited. 
& 
One could hardly enjoy a gentler call from 
slumber than the soft, delicious warble of the 
bluebird, as it often came in at my window at 
early dawn. It requires no imagination to see in 
this bird nature’s type of a meek and quiet spirit. 
If the king-bird is one of the chief sinners, the 
bluebird certainly ranks among the highest of 
the feathered saints—a Nathaniel indeed, in 
whom is no guile. Its mellow, coaxing love- 
note is one of the most affectionate sounds in 
nature, and matches the delicate gentleness of 
its ways, making it the favorite alike of poet and 
peasant. Passing from the atmosphere of other 
birds to this is hke the quick transition from 
the noisy cataract to the restfulness of the deep 
233 
