232 IN BIRD LAND. 



cut-throat finches and other dainty folk from across 

 the sea, with indigo-birds, nonpareils, goldfinches, 

 and song-sparrows from our own land. Of these, 

 the nonpareils, or painted finches, were the most 

 gifted singers, having loud, clear voices that rang 

 far above the voices of their fellow-prisoners. No 

 birds make daintier pets than these pretty creatures, 

 with their delicate blue and red costumes. The 

 next best singer in this collection was the American 

 goldfinch, which was not far behind the nonpareil, 

 and really excelled him in one respect, — that is, his 

 song was more prolonged and varied. 



The next collection was certainly a parti-hued 

 one, containing cardinal grossbeaks, Brazilian car- 

 dinals, crow blackbirds, towhee buntings, brown 

 thrashers, and English blackbirds. I had the pleas- 

 ure of hearing the song of the Brazilian cardinal. 

 It was quite fine, but scarcely comparable with the 

 rich, full-toned, and varied whistle of our cardinal- 

 bird, being much less vigorous, slower in move- 

 ment, and feebler in tone. It was gratifying to be 

 able to give the palm to our North American 

 songster. 



But of all the clatter of bird music and bird noise 

 combined that I have ever heard in my life, the 

 song of the English starling bore off the bays. 

 Never before had I Hstened to such divers sounds 

 from a bird's throat, nor had I even fancied that 

 they were possible. Small wonder a well-trained 

 starling costs from twenty to forty dollars at the 

 bird stores ! No description can do justice to the 



