WM. G. PRAEGER. 



15^ 



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 

 O' 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 : " 



