56 B Y- WA YS A ND BIRD-NO TES. 



dreamy horizon. None but the most master- 

 ful genius would have been able to keep up to 

 the sweet, quiet key of the coloring, and yet be 

 satisfied with the tender, wavering outlines and 

 the soft, transparent shadows. The liquid 

 tones of sound and color in the brook came so 

 harmoniously to my senses, along with the 

 motion of swaying flags and bubble-beaded 

 waves, that the graceful bird, seen through 

 half closed eyes, appeared to be a half-fanciful 

 embodiment of the spirit of calm delight, knee- 

 deep in some tide of enchantment or romance. 

 (Looking back over this last sentence I recog- 

 nize its weakness, but must wilfully let it go, 

 for it comes very near expressing one phase of 

 the view.) Nature is rarely either flamboyant 

 or grisatre, but keeps well the golden mean. 

 But, to return to the motions of birds, how 

 perfectly in keeping with the broad expanse of 

 sky and the movements of the clouds is the 

 sailing of the great-winged hawks and vultures ! 

 I have watched the swallow-tailed hawks of 

 the South sailing so high that they appeared to 

 be sliding against the sky. No labored move- 

 ments there ; those wings were far above the 

 difficulties that beset our earth, and were 

 spread on heavenly tides. Even the obscene 

 turkey-buzzard, when it has reached a great 

 altitude, and is moving so smoothly and 

 dreamily between us and the empyrean, be- 

 comes an object of respect ; we forget its vul- 

 garity, as we do that of men who have mounted 

 on the wings of genius, bearing their depravi- 

 ties into the rare atmosphere of exalted art. 

 The albatross, that prince of the sea-winds, 

 seems a part of the fleece-clouds and the sky. 

 The flamingoes, the pelicans, the gulls all 



