SOLITAIRE. 203 



Page Dupretz's History of Louisiana, there is a 

 description of a small bird which they call the 

 Bishop, and which we believe to be the same with 

 our Organist. Its plumage being blue passing into 

 violet, it has hence obtained the name of Bishop. 

 It is so sweet-throated, so flexible in its tones, 

 and so soft in its warblings, that those who once 

 hear it become somewhat measured in their praises 

 of the Nightingale. The notes of its song are 

 lengthened out like those of a miserere. Whilst 

 it sings it does not seem to draw breath ; but it 

 rests a double time before it recommences, and 

 this alternation of singing and resting will be con- 

 tinued for two hours.' " 



When I received these notes from my friend, 

 and had identified my bird with his description, 

 I had never heard more than two notes in suc- 

 cession. Curiosity impelled me to visit their lofty 

 solitudes often through the winter, and at length on 

 the 3rd of February, when they were abundant, 

 I heard three successive notes of different tones, 

 proceed from the same bird ; exactly like so many 

 notes of a psalm, played in slow time. And about 

 three weeks later, I find this note in my journal ; 

 I have at length heard the song of the Solitaire ; 

 the long clear notes, followed by many others of 

 varying length, and different tones, but separated 

 by pauses rather too long to make a piece of music, 

 causing the whole to seem disjointed ; but with much 



an Euphonia, allied to our Blue Quit, (see p. 238,) but with brighter 

 colours. I incline to think that Deshayes is writing of our bird ; but 

 certainly not the others, unless they attribute the notes erroneously. 



