THE AWAKENING OF THE BIRDS. 
BY T. MARTIN TRIPPE. 
To those who are in the custom of studying the habits 
of our native birds, their awakening, and early songs are 
very interesting. It is in the early morning that birds 
are in the highest spirits ; then it is that they appear to the 
best advantage ; and then it is that their songs are sweet- 
est. When summer comes on, and the days grow hot 
and long, and the singing of the birds ceases nearly alto- 
gether, early in the morning, ere yet the sun has warmed 
the cool air, the birds sing with all their former vivacity, 
and seem the same merry-hearted beaux that they were in 
spring. The early morning has always been a favorite 
time of mine for studying Natural History, and especially 
Ornithology ; and I always learn more in one hour then, 
than in three or four in the middle of the day. 
Some birds rise much earlier than others. As a rule, 
those that live in the fields are much earlier risers than 
those dwelling in the woods; and, per contra, the field 
birds go to bed earlier than the wood birds. 
The Robin is our earliest songster. While the stars 
still twinkle, and the first gray streaks of dawn have but 
just appeared, the Robin wakes from his sleep, and pours 
forth his matin hymn. From all sides the songs proceed, 
—from the orchard and garden, from the edge of the 
neighboring woods, and from the trees that fringe the 
brooks and ponds, you hear the joyous, ringing strains of 
this delightful songster. After singing for ten minutes 
or so, Robin descends from his perch, and seeks his 
breakfast with an appetite sharpened by the morning air; _ 
yet you hear him throughout the morning, but not so 
AMERICAN NAT., VOL. I. 51 (401) 
