BIRDS AND POETS 29 



the woods, uttering its harsh, uncanny note and 

 waging fierce warfare upon its fellows. 



The exquisite of the family, and the braggart of 

 the orchard, is the kingbird, a bully that loves to 

 strip the feathers off its more timid neighbors like 

 the bluebird, that feeds on the stingless bees of the 

 hive, the drones, and earns the reputation of great 

 boldness by teasing large hawks, while it gives a 

 wide berth to little ones. 



The best beloved of them all is the phoebe-bird, 

 one of the firstlings of the spring, of whom so many 

 of our poets have made affectionate mention. 



The wood pewee is the sweetest voiced, and, not- 

 withstanding the ungracious things I have said of 

 it and of its relations, merits to the full all Trow- 

 bridge's pleasant fancies. His poem is indeed a 

 very careful study of the bird and its haunts, and 

 is good poetry as well as good ornithology : — 



" The listening Dryads hushed the woods ; 

 The bonghs -weie thick, and thin and few 

 The golden ribbons fluttering through ; 



Their sun-embroidered, leafy hoods 

 The lindens lifted to the blue ; 



Only a little forest-brook 



The farthest hem of silence shook; 



When in the hollow shades I heard — 



Was it a spirit or a bird ? 



Or, strayed from Eden, desolate, 



Some Peri calling to her mate, 



Whom nevermore her mate would cheer ? 

 'Pe-ri! pe-ri! peer! ' 



" To trace it in its green retreat 



I sought among the boughs in vain ; 



