The Birds' Calendar 



it, ana there is much the same difference, there- 

 fore, between this and all other birds, that 

 one finds between the human voice and all 

 instruments of human contrivance. Such a 

 combination of apparently contrary qualities 

 so mellow and yet so metallic, so liquid and 

 luscious, and yet so full and sonorous is not 

 remotely approached, is not even suggested, by 

 any other of our birds. Such a voice was one 

 of the happiest thoughts of the Creator, and we 

 might say of it as someone remarked of the 

 strawberry: " Doubtless the Lord might have 

 made a better berry, but doubtless the Lord 

 never did." 



There is one thing in regard to the robin 

 that seems worthy of mention, especially as I 

 have never seen it alluded to, viz., its call-note, 

 in the variety of its expression. I know of no 

 other bird that is able to give so many shades 

 of meaning to a single tone, running through 

 the entire gamut of its possible feelings. From 

 the soft and mellow quality, almost as coaxing 

 as a dove's note, with which it encourages its 

 young when just out of the nest, the tone with 

 minute gradations becomes more vehement, and 

 then harsh and with quickened reiteration, un- 

 til it expresses the greatest intensity of a bird's 



