128 IN BIRD LAND. 
two birds confounded; yet there is no need of 
making such a blunder. The woodland bird is 
smaller, slenderer, and of a darker cast than his 
relative ; and, besides, there is a marked difference 
in the musical performances of these birds. The 
song of the phcebe is sprightly and cheerful, and 
the syllables are uttered rather quickly, while the 
whistle of the wood-pewee is softer and more plain- 
tive, and is repeated with less emphasis and more 
deliberation. ‘There is, indeed, something inex- 
pressibly sad and dreamy about the strain of the 
wood-pewee, especially if heard at a distance in the 
‘‘emerald twilight”? of the ‘ woodland privacies.” 
Mr. Lowell seldom erred in his attempts to charac- 
terize the songs and habits of the birds, but in his 
exquisite poem entitled ‘ Phoebe” he certainly 
must have referred to the wood-pewee and not to 
the phoebe-bird, as his description applies to the 
former but not to the latter. He calls this bird 
“the loneliest of its kind,’’ while the pewit is a 
familiar species about many a country home. ‘Tak- 
ing it for granted that he meant the wood-pewee, 
how happy is his description ! 
“Tt is a wee sad-colored thing, 
As shy and secret as a maid, 
That ere in choir the robins ring, 
Pipes its own name like one afraid. 
“Tt seems pain-prompted to repeat 
The story of some ancient ill, 
But Phebe ! Phebe! sadly sweet, 
Is all it says, and then is still. 
