WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



and has enabled more fledglings to be brought to 

 maturity by reducing the ranks of the enemies 

 of the birds. This has not only augmented their 

 number, and very appreciably modified their hab- 

 its of nesting and migration, but probably has 

 somewhat changed even their physical and men- 

 tal characteristics. There is little doubt in my 

 mind, for instance, that in making their lives less 

 laborious, apprehensive, and solitary, man has left 

 the birds time and opportunity for far more sing- 

 ing than their hard-worked, scantily fed, and tim- 

 orous ancestors ever enjoyed — a privilege a bird 

 would not be slow to avail itself of. 



Another noticeable effect is also of a mental 

 order. No longer worried, our song-birds have 

 become better minstrels — more copious and more 

 tuneful; and I believe that the delicious prattle of 

 the bluebird; the careless fluting of the oriole, 

 whistling like a boy on his way to the circus; the 

 cheerful roundelay of the thrasher ; the more serious 

 melody of wood- thrush and vireo ; the gay shouting 

 of flicker and jay — these and other voices of field 

 and grove are far more often heard to-day, and 

 are more musical, than when first they fell upon 

 the ears of the Puritan and trader of the North, or 

 of Cavalier and planter in the South. It is my 



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