BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 25 



syllables ( chea, dee de ; de-d-de, de-d-de, de-d-de, de-d-de, 

 uttered first loud and clear, and rapidly falling in tone 

 and decreasing in volume. This is chanted during the 

 morning and the latter part of the day. I have often 

 heard it at different hours of the night, when I have been 

 encamped in the deep forest, and the effect at that time 

 was indescribably sweet and plaintive. The fact that 

 the bird sings often in the night has given it the name 

 of the Nightingale in many places, and the title is well 

 earned." 



The inhabitants of Maine mention this bird as singing 

 late in the season. This is caused by his delay in build- 

 ing his nest, which is not done before June. The words 

 used by the Peabody-Bird in his song are thus described 

 in that State: 



whittling, whittling, whittling, whittling. 



