THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 25 



localities. On this account the people in the Adiron- 

 dack region call it the " Swamp Angel." Its being so 

 much of a recluse accounts for the comparative igno- 

 rance that prevails in regard to it. 



The cast of its song is very much like that of the 

 wood-thrush, and a good observer might easily con- 

 found the two. But hear them together and the dif- 

 ference is quite marked : the song of the hermit is in a 

 higher key, and is more wild and ethereal. His in- 

 strument is a silver horn which he winds in the most 

 solitary places. The song of the wood-thrush is more 

 golden and leisurely. Its tone comes near to that of 

 some rare stringed instrument. One feels that perhaps 

 the wood-thrush has more compass and power, if he 

 would only let himself out, but on the whole he comes 

 a little short of the pure, serene, hymn-like strain of 

 the hermit. 



Yet those who have heard only the wood-thrush 

 may well place him first on the list. He is truly a 

 royal minstrel, and considering his liberal distribution 

 throughout our Atlantic seaboard, perhaps contributes 

 more than any other bird to our sylvan melody. One 

 may object, that he spends a little too much time in 

 tuning his instrument, yet his careless and uncertain 

 touches reveal its rare compass and power. 



He is the only songster of my acquaintance, except- 

 ing the canary, that displays different degrees of pro- 

 ficiency in the exercise of his musical gifts. Not long 

 since, while walking one Sunday in the edge of an or- 



