The Birds’ Calendar 
it, ana there is much the same difference, there- 
fore, between this and all other birds, that 
one finds between the human voice and all 
instruments of human contrivance. Such a 
combination of apparently contrary qualities— 
so mellow and yet so metallic, so liquid and 
luscious, and yet so full and sonorous—is not 
remotely approached, is not even suggested, by 
any other of our birds. Such a voice was one 
of the happiest thoughts of the Creator, and we 
might say of it as someone remarked of the 
strawberry: ‘‘ Doubtless the Lord might have 
made a better berry, but doubtless the Lord 
never did.’’ 
There is one thing in regard to the robin 
that seems worthy of mention, especially as I 
have never seen it alluded to, viz., its call-note, 
in the variety of its expression. I know of no 
other bird that is able to give so many shades 
of meaning to a single tone, running through 
the entire gamut of its possible feelings. From 
the soft and mellow quality, almost as coaxing 
as a dove’s note, with which it encourages its 
young when just out of the nest, the tone with 
minute gradations becomes more vehement, and 
then harsh and with quickened reiteration, un- 
til it expresses the greatest intensity of a bird’s 
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