144 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



ty of raising and lowering tones in such capti- 

 vating cadences that their music seems at times 

 to float in air scarcely louder than the hum- 

 ming of bees and then again it swells into a 

 vigorous crescendo which rings out like the 

 canary's splendid song; at such times he seems 

 to pour it from two or three slivery throats all 

 at once ! 



The Bobolink is thoroughly American; he 

 has no European type; in fact, no near rela- 

 tives anywhere. He is sui generis. Certainly 

 unique in his hilarity and delightful in endless 

 musical variations. He is a songster of un- 

 equalled richness. The Mockingbird, so apt in 

 imitation of other singers, never attempts a 

 parody of Robert o' Lincoln's rollicking melo- 

 dies. Either he disdains or can't. The Bobo- 

 link's every note is a gleeful self-satisfaction. 

 He has such exuberant bird pride. Such vanity, 

 such dainty airs, surely he is the coxcomb of 

 the meadows. Yes, yes; but he is a universal 

 favorite. Everybody goes afield in July to see 

 and hear him — and the seeing and hearing is 

 marked as a red letter day experience. 



The great poets vie to write him up in best 

 and most jingling poetry. His literary fame is 

 secure, and it may be in literature he is the suc- 

 cessful competitor. 



