20 THE BIRD OF SOLITUDE. 



of smaller birds. It is his instinct, in moments 

 of excitement, to remain motionless and per- 

 fectly silent. If you do not look exactly at 

 him, you may almost put your hand upon him 

 before he stirs ; and even then he will glide 

 away almost as noiselessly as a snake. 



The easiest way to discover the bird in his 

 open hiding-place is to take an opera-glass, and, 

 having placed him as nearly as possible by ear, 

 look carefully over every branch of the tree, 

 till you come upon him, often so near and so 

 plainly in sight that you are amazed at your 

 own blindness. Nevertheless, if you remove 

 the glass from your eye without having mi- 

 nutely noted his surroundings, you will not 

 easily find him again. 



If then, keeping him in full view, you remain 

 quiet, he will accept your attitude as one of 

 peace, and pay no more attention to you, and 

 you may watch him as long as you choose ; lis- 

 tening to the little ripples of talk, the low, sigh- 

 ing " wee-o," not unlike the cat-bird's "mew," 

 the rich " tut-tut," and the soft responses of his 

 mate, perhaps brooding over the lovely treasure 

 of the home in the dogwood - tree, perhaps 

 standing, as motionless and hard to see as her 

 spouse, on a neighboring branch. 



You may chance thus to observe him after 

 the morning bath, in which he delights ; per- 



