BIRD SONGS 6l 



at the twilight hour at the close of a late 

 March or early April day and seclude 

 ourselves in some shadowy corner we 

 may hear a curious note, sounding to 

 different ears like " Nyah," " Peent," 

 " Paap," — in fact apparently to every- 

 body differently. A minute 

 passes and we may catch 

 sight of an object in the 

 fading light spring into the 

 air and while rising in long 

 curves let fall a succession 

 of musical notes ; then the 

 song changes and we realize 

 that the bird is descending, 

 the notes become more liquid and beauti- 

 ful until the bird sinks again into the 

 grass. 



This flight-song is one of the most 

 wonderful of bird utterances and surely 

 we are wont to cry out to the bird as he 

 springs upward again, 



" Teach me half the gladness 

 That thy brain must know. 

 Such harmonious madness 

 From my lips would flow. 

 The world should listen then, as I am listening 



