BIRD PARADISE 73 



not appear at other times. After he has settled 

 down in the grass he frequently indulges in a 

 chuckle that gives the song a very pleasant varia- 

 tion. From the cozy perch in the top of an old 

 apple tree there is really a little apple blossom 

 melody indulged in that one can easily imagine is 

 the carol of the tree itself as it bursts into bloom. 

 When the females arrive at the Northern home 

 the song sparkles with new life. In fact the 

 cheery fellow seems to meet each new turn of life 

 with a new turn of bobolink speech that fits the 

 case exactly. No bird of my acquaintance has 

 more to say than bobolink or can say it any 

 better. 



During my stroll I came upon a family of blue- 

 birds — two old birds and four young ones in the 

 family. When I first saw them they were seated 

 on the telephone wires, and I fancied a mild 

 lecture was being given by the mother of the 

 household. No other lecture is ever given by 

 bluebird. If he knows how to employ his tongue 

 in scolding or raillery, he never has given the 

 parson any sign of it. Whether he turns away 

 wrath or not I do not know, but this is true of him : 

 he never deals in any reply but the soft answer. 



