34 TRAMPS WITH AN ENTHUSIAST. 



song, which she has heard several times. That, 

 then, is another of the supposed songless birds 

 added to the list of singers. I know both the 

 kingbird and the wood pewee sing, not, to be 

 sure, in a way to be compared to the thrushes, 

 though far excelling the utterances of the war- 

 blers. But why are they so shy of exhibiting 

 their talent ? Why do they make such a secret 

 of it ? Can it be that they are just developing 

 their musical abilities? 



When we reached the thorn-tree, on that last 

 evening, we seated ourselves on the bank beside 

 the road, to enjoy the music of the meadow, and 

 to see the shrike family. At the nest all was 

 still, probably settled for the night, but the 

 " lord and master " of that snug homestead 

 stood on a tall maple-tree close by, in dignified 

 silence, watching our movements, no doubt. We 

 waited some time, but he refused either to go or 

 to relax his vigilance in the least, till the hour 

 grew late, and we were obliged to turn back. 



The sun had set, and the sky was filled, as on 

 that first evening, with soft, rosy sunset clouds, 

 and the distant mountains, with Jay Peak for a 

 crown, were clothed in gorgeous purple again. 

 With all this beauty before us, we slowly walked 

 back to the village, and I felt it a fitting close 

 to my delightful if exhausting tramps with an 

 Enthusiast. 



