INDIGO-BIRD. 119 



the chewinks south, and I searched through the 

 raspberry patch and wandered through the woods 

 calling to them in vain. But one day after the 

 middle of the month I found another male eating 

 the grain. He scratched among the leaves in full 

 view, running at them with a queer energetic mo- 

 tion, tossing them up behind him. I had a long 

 conversation with him, but though he answered 

 all my remarks in a very friendly way, he looked 

 cold, and talked in rather a pensive strain, and I 

 saw no more of the family that fall. 



XXXIII. 



INDIGO-BIRD. 



IN a paper in the " Audubon Magazine," Mr. 

 Ridgway has shown what a mistake has been 

 made in depreciating our American songsters. 

 With equal justice an article might be written, 

 calling attention to the brilliant plumages of many 

 of our northern birds. The purple grackle, ori- 

 ole, bluebird, goldfinch, humming-bird, barn swal- 

 low, blue jay, purple finch, scarlet tanager, red- 

 headed woodpecker, yellow -throated vireo, and 

 numbers of our warblers would excite wondering 

 delight if they should bear South American or 

 European labels. Indeed, among birds as among 

 roadside flowers, we need to make it the fashion 

 to appreciate our own national gallery of beauties. 



