24 THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 



" Thrice welcome, darling of the spring ! 



Even yet thou art to me 

 No bird, but an invisible thing, 

 A voice, a mystery." 



The black-billed is the only species found 

 in my locality, the yellow-billed abounds far- 

 ther south. Their note or call is nearly the 

 same. The former sometimes suggests the 

 voice of a turkey. The call of the latter 

 may be suggested thus : k-k-k-k-k-kow, kow, 

 kow-ow, Icow-ow. 



The yellow-billed will take up his stand 

 in a tree and explore its branches till he has 

 caught every worm. He sits on a twig, and 

 with a peculiar swaying movement of his 

 head examines the surrounding foliage. 

 When he discovers his prey, he leaps upon 

 it in a fluttering manner. 



In June the black-billed makes a tour 

 through the orchard and garden, regaling 

 himself upon the canker-worms. At this 

 time he is one of the tamest of birds, and 

 will allow you to approach within a few 

 yards of him. I have even come within a 

 few feet of one without seeming to excite 

 his fear or suspicion. He is quite unsophis- 

 ticated, or else royally indifferent. 



The plumage of the cuckoo is a rich 



