THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS 23 
swampy localities. On this account the people in 
the Adirondack region call it the “Swamp Angel.” 
Its being so much of a recluse accounts for the com- 
parative ignorance that prevails in regard to it. 
The cast of its song is very much like that of the 
wood thrush, and a good observer might easily con- 
found the two. But hear them together and the 
difference is quite marked: the song of the hermit 
is in a higher key, and is more wild and ethereal. 
His instrument is a silver horn which he winds in 
the most solitary places. The song of the wood 
thrush is more golden and leisurely. Its tone 
comes near to that of some rare stringed instrument. 
One feels that perhaps the wood thrush has more 
compass and power, if he would only let himself 
out, but on the whole he comes a little short of the 
pure, serene, hymn-like strain of the hermit. 
Yet those who have heard only the wood thrush 
may well place him first on the list. He is truly 
a royal minstrel, and, considering his liberal distri- 
bution throughout our Atlantic seaboard, perhaps 
contributes more than any other bird to our sylvan 
melody. One may object that he spends a little 
too much time in tuning his instrument, yet his 
careless and uncertain touches reveal its rare com- 
pass and power. 
He is the only songster of my acquaintance, ex- 
cepting the canary, that displays different degrees 
of proficiency in the exercise of his musical gifts. 
Not long since, while walking one Sunday in the 
edge of an orchard adjoining a wood, I heard one 
