AN ORNITHOLOGICAL LECTURE. 105 



as the nightingale and the skylark ; and because these and 

 our canaries are foreign, most persons suppose that we have 

 no equally fine songsters of our own. Let a doubter go 

 into the June woods only once! June is harvest -month 

 for the ornithologist. Then the birds are dressed in their 

 best, are showing off all their good points to their lady- 

 loves, are building their nests, and being very happy are 

 in full song. Morning and evening there is such a chorus 

 as makes the jubilant air fairly quiver with melody, while all 

 day you catch the yeap of pigmies in the tree-tops, the chat- 

 tering and twittering of garrulous sparrows and swallows, 

 and the tintinnabulation of wood-thrushes. I cannot even 

 name all these glorious singers. Perhaps the many-tongued 

 mocking-bird stands at the head of the list; possibly the 

 hermit- thrush, whose song is of " serene religious beati- 

 tude," or the blue grossbeak or winter wren. As you 

 choose. The bird you think pre-eminent to-day will be 

 excelled to-morrow, and you will refuse to distinguish be- 

 tween them for the love and admiration you bear them all. 



