122 FRESH FIELDS 



crowned kinglet, has a rich, delicious, and prolonged 

 warble, which is noticeable in the Northern States 

 for a week or two in April or May, while the bird 

 pauses to feed on its way to its summer home. 



There are no vireos in Europe, nor birds that 

 answer to them. With us, they contribute an im- 

 portant element to the music of our groves and 

 woods. There are few birds I should miss more 

 than the red-eyed vireo, with his cheerful musical 

 soliloquy, all day and all summer, in the maples 

 and locusts. It is he, or rather she, that builds 

 the exquisite basket nest on the ends of the low, 

 leafy branches, suspending it between two twigs. 

 The warbling vireo has a stronger, louder strain, 

 more continuous, but not quite so sweet. The soli- 

 tary vireo is heard only in the deep woods, while 

 the white-eyed is still more local or restricted in 

 its range, being found only in wet, bushy places, 

 whence its vehement, varied, and brilliant song is 

 sure to catch the dullest ear. . 



The goldfinches of the two countries, though 

 differing in plumage, are perhaps pretty evenly 

 matched in song; while our purple finch, or linnet, 

 I am persuaded, ranks far above the English lin- 

 net, or lintie, as the Scotch call it. In compass, in 

 melody, in sprightliness, it is a remarkable songster. 

 Indeed, take the finches as a family, they certainly 

 furnish more good songsters in this country than in 

 Great Britain. They furnish the staple of our bird- 

 melody, including in the family the tanager and 

 the grosbeaks, while in Europe the warblers lead. 



