April 



majority of efforts to put a bird's notes into 

 black and white. It is the most characteristic 

 and promising call-note I have ever heard. 

 Reference will be made to the song later. 



In this connection it may be said that perhaps 

 the commonest error in song-description is the 

 frequent allusion of all writers to a bird's trill 

 a thing very seldom heard. This is a con- 

 venient word for describing a peculiarly brilliant 

 and beautiful phase of its vocalization, and with 

 a clear understanding of its general inaccuracy 

 I suppose it is admissible to perpetuate the 

 monosyllabic falsehood. 



From now on it is an experience of parting 

 with old friends as well as greeting new ones. 

 By the middle of the month the fox sparrows, 

 so abundant and singing so freely during all 

 their stay, had quite disappeared. Coming out 

 of a cloudy sky with an avalanche of song, they 

 leave one of the pleasantest and most distinct 

 memories of early spring, like the anemone, and 

 have passed on into an anticipation of the next 

 year. Very companionable with all other birds, 

 they had a delightful way of making themselves 

 quite at home during their short visit, without 

 becoming obnoxious, like the grackles ; the best 

 sort of company, that comes to entertain as well 

 117 



