86 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



"the silver chain of sound, 



Of many links without a break, 



In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake, 



All intervolved and spreading wide 



Like water-dimples down a tide, 



When ripple, ripple over curls 



And eddy into eddy whirls." 



To others the song of the Purple Finch may not be all that it is to- 

 me — the expression of my inmost thought in the sweetest way — but 

 surely any one becoming familiar with it must realize the birth of a new 

 pleasure in life. 



Another bird frequently seen about the lawn is the Yellow Warbler. 

 This bright greenish yellow little chap, with his bright crown and 

 streaked breast, and slender bill, brings his more modestly attired little 

 wife to inspect the premises about the first of May. Last year two 

 pairs of these warblers, built their nests and reared their families in our 

 syringa bushes. It was with great interest I watched them at their 

 work. First their work of building, and afterwards their work of feed- 

 ing their young. In one nest the four youngsters in what seemed an 

 unreasonably short time grew too large for the nest; and one rainy 

 evening as I approached over the sides they went in a jiffy, and on to 

 the ground. The parents raised a tremendous outcry. In vain I tried 

 to induce them to spend the night in the old home. The next morning, 

 old and young had disappeared. 



There is something in the wee-chee, cher-wee of the Yellow Warbler 

 that suggests and invites sociability. Many a morning as the happy 

 notes reached me in my study, I left the unfinished work and went out 

 to watch them at their songful labors. The song of the Chestnut-sided 

 Warbler so very closely resembles that of the Yellow Warbler that one 

 is easily led to take one for the other. The Chestnut-sided while shyer 

 than the Yellow Warbler is nevertheless a frequent visitor near our 

 home. Though very active — -its movements suggesting those of the 

 Red Start — the observant person may easily distinguish the markings 

 and so identify it. The male has a bright yellow crown, and a black 

 line behind the eye. The front part of the cheeks are black, the ear- 

 coverts white. The back is streaked with black and margined with 

 bright olive-green. The wing-bars yellowish white, tail black and the 

 under parts white, the sides chestnut. The female is similar, but some- 

 what duller in color. 



Another warbler that comes about the lawn and orchard in spring is 

 the Myrtle or Yellow-rumped. This year I first saw it the tenth of 



