THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
77 
Audubon remarks, " Much and justly as the song of 
the nightingale is admired, I am inclined, after having 
often listened to it, to pronounce it in no degree su- 
perior to that of the Louisiana water-thrush. The 
notes of the latter bird are as powerful and mellow, 
and as varied. This bird is a resident of the lowlands 
of Louisiana and the Missisippi. It may be observed 
perched on a low bough, scarcely higher than the top 
of the canes, in an erect attitude, swelling its throat, 
and repeating several times in succession sounds so 
approaching the whole two octaves of a good piano- 
forte as almost to induce the hearer to imagine that 
the keys of that instrument are used on the occasion. 
The bird begins on the upper key, and progressively 
passes from one to another, until it reaches the base 
note ; this last frequently being lost, when there 
is the least agitation in the air. Its song is heard 
even in the winter, when the weather is calm and 
warm/^ 
Wishing to impress others with the same feeling 
of regard which I possess for my feathered favourites, 
I gladly avail myself of every interesting circumstance 
likely to effect my purpose. With this intention, I 
beg to quote the following observations from an author 
H 2 
