WM. G. PRAEGER. 151 
largely because in his ornithology, as in everything else, he 
was a true American; and also because he habitually used 
names that originated in the fields and woods. In the 
Biglow Papers he makes this protest in favor of our own 
birds : 
“ Jes’ so with poets ; what they’ve airly read 
-Gits kind o’ worked into their heart and head, 
So’st they can’t seem to write but just on sheers 
With furrin countries and played-out ideers, 
Nor have a feelin’ if it doosn’t smack 
OQ’ wut some critter chose to feel way back. 
This makes them talk o’ daisies, larks and things, 
Ez though we’d nothin’ here that blows an’ sings. 
Why, I’d give more for one live bobolink 
Than a square mile o’ larks in printers’ ink.” 
And he always uses good common names. In that beauti- 
ful description of a bird and its life in just two lines we 
read: 
“ In ellum shrouds the flashing hangbird clings, 
And for the summer vy’ge his hammock slings.” 
And in another poem : 
“ And the wanderer is welcome to the hall, 
As the hangbird to the elm-tree bough.” 
But we hear nothing of the “ Baltimore Oriole” in his 
writings. 
I believe our naturalists are gradually getting away from 
the methods of old schoolmaster Dryasdust. A few years 
ago our books only knew of the Great Northern Diver, for 
which “Loon” was a despised provincialism. Of what use 
is “Great Northern Diver” to a poet? But those who 
know the habits of the Loon, and have heard his call among 
the lonely surroundings he loves, will appreciate the use 
made of him in the opening of that mysterious, prophetic 
poem, “ The Washers of the Shroud :” 
