Music of the Wild 



"while you ne^er have seen the vocahst, for it keeps 

 close earth in damp, dark places, although oocial 

 and a constant talker. It mounts to a high choir- 

 loft to sing its song. The cricket's is the dominant 

 insect note of the forest in August, the crow's the 

 bird voice of the treetops ; this is the busybody and 

 the unceasing musician of earth. 



Pairs remain together after family cares are 

 over, and their conversation consists of a question 

 and an answer. "Che-wink?" inquires the male, 

 with strong interrogative inflection on the last syl- 

 lable. "Che-wee!" exclaims the female, in reply, 

 as if she were delighted to say so. "Che-wink?" 

 he asks again, with his next breath. "Che-wee!" 

 she giu'gles, as if she were telling him something 

 "perfectly splendid" for the first time. This call 

 of the male sui:)plies the species M'ith a common 

 name. On his part it means, "Where are you?" — 

 and her answer is, "Here!" But as it is delivered 

 I think, from the spontaneity of the reply, that 

 it means a shade more — "Safely here!" "Happily 

 here!" or "Crlad to be here!" 



I am sure this is true, because in work close 

 chewink nests I have had much acquaintance M'ith 

 them. If a male calls and does not get instant 

 reply, he rejjcats the notes with perceptibly higher 

 tone and stronger inflection. If there is no an- 

 swer to this he flies to a bush and begins a per- 

 fect clamor of alarm cries, and hurries around the 



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