WILD LIFE ABOUT MY CABIN 



dered starling, whose clear and liquid gur-ga-lee or 

 o-ka-lee, above the full water-courses, makes a differ- 

 ent impression. The cowbird also has a clear note, 

 but it seems to be wrenched or pumped up with 

 much effort. 



In May I go to Black Creek to hear the warblers 

 and the water-thrushes. It is the only locaUty where 

 I have ever heard the two water-thrushes, or accen- 

 tors, singing at the same time, — the New York and 

 the large-billed. The latter is much more abundant 

 and much the finer songster. How he does make 

 these watery sohtudes ring with his sudden, brilhant 

 burst of song ! But the more northern species pleases 

 the ear also with his quieter and less hurried strain. 

 I drift in my boat and let the ear attend to the one, 

 then to the other, while the eye takes note of their 

 quick, nervous movements and darting flight. The 

 smaller species probably does not nest along this 

 stream, but the large-billed breeds here abundantly. 

 The last nest I found was in the roots of an up- 

 turned tree, with the water immediately beneath it. 

 I had asked a neighboring farm-boy if he knew of 

 any birds' nests. 



" Yes," he said ; and he named over the nests of 

 robins, highholes, sparrows, and others, and then 

 that of a " tip-up." 



At this last I pricked up my ears, so to speak. 

 I had not seen a tip-up's nest in many a day. 

 " Where ? " I inquired. 



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