Earliest Signs of Spring 



these birds at sundown, and just before sunrise, 

 remind one somewhat of the intoxicated hilar- 

 ity of the bobolink; and, in its native land, 

 the starling is a favorite caged bird. One 

 German naturalist, who confesses, very truly, 

 that the natural song of a bird, however simple, 

 is commonly far superior to any artificial per- 

 formance, says that the starling is an exception 

 to the rule, and that his talent for imitating 

 every melody and tone - color is marvellous; 

 but he adds that it is dangerous to let him 

 hear the squeaking of a door, the snarling of a 

 file, or the rasping of a saw, which he is sure 

 to pick up and introduce among his more 

 melodious effects ; which shows that, while he 

 knows the perfect technique of his art, he is 

 like some other so - called artists, in having 

 missed the very soul of it. 



The fascination of all natural research is 

 largely in the striking contrasts and uncertain- 

 ties always incident thereto. One never knows 

 beforehand just where he will catch the snow- 

 bird's modest but delightful tintinnabulation, 

 or hear the chickadee's contagious gayety ring- 

 ing through the air. I am utterly weary of 

 caged birds: in part, because the very spot 

 from which their next song is to come is pre- 

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