40 BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



THE PREACHER. 



The Preacher is more generally known by his note, 

 because he is incessant in his song, and particularly 

 vocal during the heat of our long summer days, when 

 only a few birds are singing. His style of preaching is 

 not declamation. Though constantly talking, he takes 

 the part of a deliberative orator, who explains his subject 

 in a few words and then makes a pause for his hearers 

 to reflect upon it. We might suppose him to be repeat- 

 ing moderately, with a pause between each sentence, 

 " You see it, — you know it, — do you hear me ? — do 

 you believe it ? " All these strains "are delivered with a 

 rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if wait- 

 ing for an answer. 



The tones of the Preacher are loud and sharp, hardly 

 melodious, modulated somewhat like those of the Eobin, 

 though not so continuous. He is never fervent, rapid, 

 or fluent, but, like a true zealot, he is apt to be tiresome, 

 from the long continuance of his discourse. He pauses 

 frequently in the middle of a strain to seize a moth or a 

 beetle, beginning anew as soon as he has swallowed his 

 morsel. Samuels expresses great admiration for this little 

 bird. " Everywhere in these States," he remarks, " at all 

 hours of the day, from early dawn until evening twilight, 

 his sweet, half-plaintive, half-meditative carol is heard," 

 and he adds, that of all his feathered acquaintances this 

 is his favorite. The prolongation of his singing season 

 until sometimes the last week in August renders him a 

 valuable songster. When nearly all other birds have be- 

 come silent, the little Preacher still continues his earnest 

 harangue, and is sure of an audience at this late period, 

 when he has but few rivals. 



