MINOR SONGSTERS. 181 



We watched the little tableau admiringly (I had 

 never seen a prettier show of nonchalance), and 

 thanked our stars that we had been saved from 

 an involuntary slaughter of the innocents while 

 trampling all about the spot. The nest, which 

 we had tried so hard to find, was in plain sight, 

 concealed only by the perfect agreement of its 

 color with that of the dead pine-branches in the 

 midst of which it was placed. The shrewd birds 

 had somehow learned by experience, perhaps, 

 like ourselves that those who would escape 

 disagreeable and perilous conspicuity must con- 

 form as closely as possible to the world around 

 them. 



According to my observation, the towhee is 

 not much given to singing after July ; but he 

 keeps up his call, which is little less musical 

 than his song, till his departure in late Septem- 

 ber. At that time of the year the birds collect 

 together in their favorite haunts ; and I remem- 

 ber my dog's running into the edge of a road- 

 side pasture among some cedar-trees, when there 

 broke out such a chorus of cherawinks that I 

 was instantly reminded of a swamp full of frogs 

 in April. 



After the tanager the Baltimore oriole (named 

 for Lord Baltimore, whose colors he wears) is 

 probably the most gorgeous, as he is certainly 

 one of the best known, of New England birds. 



