50 THE MOUNTAINS 



There is an immense contrast in the dynamics 

 of the song; it ranges from pp to ff; there is 

 nothing of this kind which characterizes the 

 wood thrush's music. Also, there is a remark- 

 able, mysterious overtone, purely harmonic 

 and ventriloquistic in quality, which at times 

 dominates the cadenza of the song and holds 

 the listener in rapt surprise! . . . Yes, the 

 tones are silver — burnished silver, and sweeter 

 far than those of any instrument created by 

 the hand of man! 



During the first six weeks of my vaca- 

 tion (exactly stated, all of July and the 

 first ten days of August) I had a most 

 noteworthy experience with the hermit 

 thrush. In the summer of 1907 I did 

 what I could to become acquainted with 

 the songster, going out in several direc- 

 tions from Littleton, New Hampshire, 

 and my success was sufficient to create in 

 me a determination to know more thor- 

 oughly this "bird of genius." Possibly 

 this determination has been kept in force 

 by an abiding ambition, which I have, to 

 master and appreciate everything pecu- 



