198 HABITS OP BIRDS. 



that in a serene morning, when the wind is hushed, 

 and before " the busy hum of men" begins, his voice 

 maybe distinguished at the distance of half a mile ; 

 the migratory thrush (T. migratorius), who is an 

 early songster, frequently commencing before the 

 snow has disappeared, and perching on a stake or 

 fence to begin the prelude to the general concert ; 

 the Baltimore oriole (Oriolus BalLimorus), whose 

 notes consist of a clear mellow whistle, repeated at 

 short intervals as he gleams among the branches, 

 characterized by a certain wild plaintiveness and 

 interesting simplicity, like that of a careless plough- 

 boy whistling for amusement, and that even among 

 the poplars of the American streets, amid the din 

 of coaches, and wheelbarrows, and the bawling of 

 oyster-women ; the Virginian nightingale (Loxia 

 cardinalis), who sings from March till September 

 with great clearness, melody, vivacity, variety, and 

 sprightliness, many of his notes being as loud as 

 those of a fife ; and the song sparrow (Fringilla me- 

 loda), by far the earliest, the most unwearied, and 

 sweetest of the American song-birds, whose notes 

 resemble the beginning of the canary's song. But 

 we may mention another instance still more adverse 

 to the theory, that, namely, of the ricebird (Embe- 

 riza oryzivora), which is found not only in the more 

 temperate latitudes, but in Jamaica, and, we believe, 

 other tropical localities. His song is highly musi- 

 cal; and mounting and hovering on the wing, at a 

 small height above ground, he chants out a jingling 

 melody of varied notes, as if half a dozen birds were 

 singing together. Some idea may be formed of it 

 by striking the high keys of a piano-forte singly and 

 quickly, making as many contrasts as possible of 

 high and low notes. M^ny of the tones are delight- 

 ful, but the ear can with difficulty separate them. 

 The general effect of the whole is good ; and, when 

 ten or twelve are singing on the same tree, the con- 

 cert is singularly pleasing. These examples are 



