54 THE CITY OF THE BIRDS. 



become so entirely transformed? Truly a change, 

 and the cause of his unusual hilarity is the tender 

 sympathy he has for his spouse, down there on 

 her nest in some sedge tussock by the stream, 

 who, perchance, with nice discernment, compares 

 its laughing ripples with those of her devoted 

 mate above her, in the topmost boughs. 



A half dozen lively salutes from as many 

 yellow-throats greet me as I walk along the edge 

 of the wood, but the supplemental song, such as 

 that just listened to, is not heard. May there not 

 be among the Oscines, as in persons, particular 

 individuals with glottis and larynx peculiarly 

 formed by accident, which make them exception- 

 ally good singers .■' One frequently comes upon 

 song-sparrows, distinguished by having an extra 

 prolonged trill in the midst of their tunes, and 

 many of the towhees shake out, for effect, a few 

 additional quavers after introducing themselves. 

 Observers have given interesting accounts of the 

 supplemental serenade of the Oven-bird (Shims 

 Aiiricapillus) a brother to the wag-tail that feeds 

 by the streams earlier in the season. Mr. Bur- 

 roughs says, "He launches into the air and bursts 

 into a perfect ecstasy of song, clear, ringing, copi- 

 ous." One suspects, however, that these extraor- 

 dinary singers are comparatively rare, and the 

 additional performance is given only by certain 

 few individuals, who know their musical powers. 



