APPENDIX. 143 



CHICKADEE. Contin. 



clear, and various minor but equally expressive notes (among them a 

 simple tsip), as well as certain guttural cries, one of which sounds like a 

 rapid utterance of the French phrase " tout de suite," and is indicative, 

 as it were, of the restless disposition of these birds." Minot, H. D. : Land- 

 birds and Game-birds of N. E., p. 62. 



Wood-Pewee. (See p. 8 ; also p. 64.) 



" They have all written about it ; but I say again, it 

 surprises me more and more that so peculiar, so plaintive, 

 so religious a song has received almost no attention. 

 Wilson tries to tell what he says ; but heavens ! what he 

 sings is the thing to attend to. My words for his music 

 are these : 





Hear, O Lord! Hear, I pray! A- men, A- men. 



You see how much there is in that little, and how much 

 of interest can be said that has never been said. And is 

 it not interesting to find this singer and the wood-thrush 

 in B flat minor. There ; I can't afford to enlighten you 

 further this time. The birds are an increasing wonder, 

 and their music is by far their most wonderful endow- 

 ment. It seems to me I can do something to make this 

 plainer." C., S. P., in a letter dated June 17, 1885. 



Mr. Burroughs mentions the "sweet pathetic cry" of 

 the wood-pewee ; but the devotional element in the songs 

 of these two birds seems not to have impressed the writers 

 generally. In a delightful passage from the pen of Dr. 

 Coues we find the song inspired by " mournful fancies." 



" Wherever it may fix its home, whether in the seclusion of sylvan re- 

 treats or in the vicinity of man's abode, its presence is soon made known 



