NATURE AND HER HARMONIES. 
18 
happiness, keeping time witli his wings as he flutters and 
dives along, that one cannot help feeling he is about to go 
all to pieces in his ecstasy ; be verily fragmented into sweet 
sounds ! 
But no such thing ; he's a tough little preacher of cheerful- 
ness, and holds together with all that riotous, jolly rantipole. 
Ah, how we have laughed on a spring morning, to wit- 
ness his delirious bliss, as he went exhorting by, to his so- 
berer neighbors, about love and sunshine, the dew and flow- 
ers ; bugs and caterpillars too, no doubt ! 
" Hail to thee, blithe spirit !" — ^thou embodied joy ! winged 
laughter ! — pleasant indeed is thy faith of mirth, and wiser 
far than that of canting ! Mr. Audubon gives a felicitous 
account of the funny, ingenious ways of this jollificating 
Eeverend, 
" No sooner have they reached the portion of the countrj^ in 
which they intend to remain during the time of raising their 
young, than these birds exhibit all the liveliness and vivacity 
belonging to their nature. The male is seen rising in the air 
from ten to twenty yards in an indirect manner, jerking his 
tail and body, flapping his wings, and singing with remark- 
able impetuosity, as if under the influence of haste, and anx- 
ious to return to the tree from which he has departed. He 
accordingly descends with the same motions of the body and 
tail, repeating his pleasing song as he alights. These gam- 
bols and carollings are performed frequently during the day, 
the intervals being employed in ascending or descending 
along the branches and twigs of different trees, in search of 
insects or larvie. In doing this, they rise on their legs, sel- 
dom without jetting the tail, stretch the neck, seize the prey, 
and emit a single note, which is sweet and mellow, although 
in power much inferior to that of the Baltimore. At other 
times, it is seen bending its body downwards, in a curved 
posture, with the head gently inclined upwards, to peep at 
the under parts of the leaves, so as not to suffer any grub to 
escape its vigilance. It now alights on the ground, where it 
