JUNE IN FRANCONIA. 13 



differing from it mainly in tone and inflec- 

 tion rather than in form. In these two re- 

 spects it suggests the solitary vireo, though 

 it never reproduces the indescribably sweet 

 cadence, the real "dying fall," of that most 

 delightful songster. At the risk of a seem- 

 ing contradiction, however, I must mention 

 one curious circumstance. On going again 

 to Francoiiia, a year afterwards, and, nat- 

 urally, keeping my ears open for Vireo pJdl- 

 addpliicuS) I discovered that I was never 

 for a moment in doubt when I heard a red- 

 eye ; but once, on listening to a distant soli- 

 tary, catching only part of the strain, 

 I was for a little quite uncertain whether he 

 might not be the bird for which I was look- 

 ing. How this fact is to be explained I am 

 unable to say ; it will be least surprising to 

 those who know most of such matters, and 

 at all events I think it worth recording as 

 affording a possible clue to some future ob- 

 server. The experience, inconsistent as the 

 assertion may sound, does not in the least 

 alter my opinion that the Philadelphia's 

 song is practically certain to be confused 

 with the red-eye's rather than with the soli- 

 tary's. Upon that point my companions 



