20 2Tf)e Barton's 



astray by its association with spring. But he 

 sets us comparatively at ease by stating that 

 there is a Southern species heard, when you have 

 reached the Potomac, " whose note is far more 

 harsh and crackling. To stand on the verge of 

 a swamp vocal with these, pains and stuns the 

 ear. The call of the Northern species is far 

 more tender and musical." It is at least some 

 consolation to know there are others worse off 

 than ourselves. 



The uproarious crow-blackbird, too, is sure 

 to return to the Lombardy poplars in April. A 

 volley of coarse shot alone can drown his dis- 

 cordant gutturals, which he hurls at you in utter 

 disregard of the exquisite sensitiveness of the 

 human tympanum. Fortunately for mankind, 

 he is less numerous than the nauseous sparrow, 

 or deafness were necessarily the all-prevailing 

 malady. How many of these oral miseries there 

 are awaiting us ! It is enough to develop a 

 gouty diathesis to think of them. 



The blue-jay is almost always referred to as 

 the most discordant among the birds, while little 

 fault is found with the harsh voice of the grackle 

 or crow-blackbird. Compared with the latter, 

 the jay is a paragon in manners, dress, and 

 every characteristic, unless we except his habit 

 of pilfering the nests of his neighbors. His 



