98 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



ground and, soaring and singing, mounts higher 

 and higher to greet the day with joyous melody. 



In the warbler family are many singers, and in 

 some respects they resemble each other in their 

 music. The sedge-warbler, however, is the chief 

 among them. His great power is mimicry, and 

 there is hardly any limit to the sounds he can re- 

 produce. His song is a medley of many and vary- 

 ing strains; and in the hush of twilight he seems 

 like a tiny elfin troubadour recounting the deeds 

 of the day. Composed of many tones in rapid suc- 

 cession, with changing lights and shades and ca- 

 dences, the song seems so well developed that one 

 might suspect the little musician of arranging the 

 material beforehand. 



The starling is called by some a songster, and 

 if effort entitles him to consideration, he is a de- 

 serving musician. Being a most talented mimic 

 he ofPers as a song all his repertoire of sounds in 

 the best way he can, interspersing them with chirps 

 and whistlings. Perhaps in time he will become 

 a master musician, for he seems a songster in the 

 making. 



In the multitude of nature's choristers there are 

 many singers of rare merit and ability, but space 

 will not allow even an enumeration of them here. 

 The flute-like notes of the blackbird, the whistling 



