WAITING FOR WARBLERS. 69 



is far more likely that no tragical incident will mar 

 our pleasure, which will perhaps rather be increased 

 by the sudden appearance of some new species of 

 which we had not thought. The hooded, the parula, 

 the worm-eating, the bay-breasted, the spotted, or 

 the pine warbler may turn the corner of some twisted 

 twig and command attention. There may be nothing 

 very different in their ways, but the plumage is so 

 marked and the display of contrasting colors so 

 decided that it is a positive delight to trace their 

 progress through the bushes or the tree-tops, 

 wherever, in fact, they may chance to be ; that is, if 

 you are disposed to be entertained by ways rather 

 than words, for, with very few exceptions, the most 

 pretentious songs of these wood - warblers, over 

 which writers have enthused and which they have 

 minutely described, really amount to very little ; and 

 particularly now, in early May, are of even less 

 moment from the fact that acknowledged great 

 musicians, skilled in all the art of melodious ex- 

 pression, cause the very air to tremble with their 

 ecstatic singing. 



There is always danger of overestimation of a 

 wild bird's merits. Birds, to be sure, as a class can- 

 not be overvalued ; they are really superior to any- 

 thing that can be said in their favor ; but when we 

 happen, by force of circumstances, to be particu- 

 larly impressed by a song, or see unexpected in- 

 telligence in some display of cunning, we are apt 

 to use our bright colors too freely in subsequently 

 painting the bird's portrait. There come to us every 



