BLACK THROATED (lUKEN WAUHLEK. 60 



Lily Lfiko it Hoemud to mo that huiulrodH of birds woro singing— I 

 hnd novor hoard so nmny buforu, my eurH had boon so deaf, so 

 untrainod~and I could dutoot, unpracticod an I was, couHiditrablo 

 variety in thoir songs. When T onterod tho woods I did n»>t hoo 

 any birds, but piloted by their voices soon discovered tlieni flitting 

 among the thick foliage. Some woro on thu upper branches, whilo 

 others were in the underbrush. They witre snudl in si/^e, so I at 

 once settled in my mind that they were little gray birds — a term 

 invented by tho cjvsual observer to cover tho unknown species that 

 flit about him in his rambles. But the problem T had assigned 

 myself was tho determination of just what species they were, and 

 to loam tlio notes of each one. I was confused by tho variety of 

 these notes, but selected for my first subject a little bird that kept 

 going from branch to branch of a spruce tree directly in front of mo, 

 and was singing very constantly. I listened for some time to 

 become familiar with the notes of its song and was srjon interested 

 in tho singing, it was so (juaint and odd — so diflerent from the 

 familar songs of my friends the " swamp robin " and " old Tom 

 Peabody," whoso fino voices I could hear coming from tho hill- 

 side beyond. Tho now song was short, simple, and rather jerky, 

 yet sweet and sprightly. 



The bird was so happy and was adding so much to the moming'ii 

 gladness that I shrank from killing it. Several times my gun was 

 lowered to let the hapi)y creature sing just one more song. But 

 what else could I do but shoot, if I was to loarn anything about 

 these birds? There was not any collection of bird skins in St. John 

 at that time, though tho present generation of students cannot 

 make that complaint, nor had I a friend who could teach mo. Had 

 I been studying for myself I might have managed very well with an 

 opera glass — my glass has saved many a bird's life since then — but I 

 needed the skins to help mo in teaching others. Tho birds must be 

 shot ! 



The crack of my gun was followed by the tumble of tho dainty 

 form, and there it lay motionless a few yards from my feet. 

 I stooped to pick it up, but was so startled I held my breath, 

 and paused to examine the beautiful thing. It did not seem 

 possible that such a brilliantly plumaged bird could be common 

 in the country and escape detection so long. It lay on its back, 



