MIDSUMMER SONGSTERS. 83 



tember. At both extremities of the sea- 

 son his voice is often the only one to be 

 heard from far or near. He sings, too, all 

 day long, except perhaps at high noon, 

 and as if conscious that such persistent 

 singing, if unvaried, might in time become 

 tiresome to the listener, the song-sparrow 

 gives us some six or seven variations, 

 which sometimes follow one another in 

 rapid succession. One of these variations, 

 consisting of a long and peculiarly liquid 

 whistle, immediately after the introductory 

 note, and before the concluding trills, is 

 especially beautiful. Thoreau, in the book 

 above quoted, writes : " R. VV. E. [Ralph 

 Waldo Emerson] imitates the wood-thrush 

 by ' He ivilly willy — ha willy willy — O 

 willy, O! The song-sparrow is said to be 

 imitated in New Bedford thus: 'Maids, 

 maids, maids , hang on your tea-kettle — ettle 

 ettle — ettle — ettle: " 



The vesper-sparrow, or bay-winged 

 bunting, also comes early, and we should 

 indeed be grateful to him for continuing 

 his sweet, melodious trills through into 



