THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 33 



habits being found in the Middle and Eastern States, 

 during the period of song, only in the deepest and 

 most remote forests, usually in damp and swampy 

 localities. On this account the people in the Adiron- 

 dac region call it the " Swamp Angel." Its being 

 so much of a recluse accounts for the comparative ig- 

 norance 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 

 instrument 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 distribu- 

 tion throughout our Atlantic seaboard, perhaps con- 

 tributes more than any other bird to our sylvan mel- 

 ody. 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, ex- 



