BIRD PARADISE 85 



occasion was all nicely pictured out by the two 

 professors — faculty of the institution. The lawn 

 of the rectory and church was the broad stage 

 whereon the entire exercises were conducted. 

 Just what was said as the students were called 

 to take their parts I could not quite divine. The 

 outcome, however, was the key to all that fol- 

 lowed. The four students, each in his turn, 

 stepped boldly out and in the "born anew" of 

 the moment went cheerily forward to the first fuU 

 sweep of flicker life. 



The bobolink trills his song now only occa- 

 sionally. Its bubbling over joy has sensibly 

 changed into a kind of bird music that has a 

 good many slow and heavy notes. Curious that 

 when the fellow's work and care are put aside 

 the best part of him should go with them. I 

 wonder if there be any scheme that could be put 

 iuto operation whereby we might preserve not 

 only this bird's song, but the songs of all birds, 

 through the vacation season. We need a Bur- 

 bank to work in this direction, and it may not 

 be a fruitless venture. The bird uses his short 

 note or chirp the whole year through, and why 

 should be not use his song 1 I often ask myself 



