84 
SINGING BIRDS. 
These gay, lively, and brilliant strangers, leaving their hi- 
bernal retreat in South America, appear in New England about 
the first week in May, and more than a month earlier in Loui- 
siana, according to the observations of Audubon. They were 
not seen, however, in West Florida by the middle of March, 
although vegetation had then so far advanced that the oaks 
were in leaf, and the white flowering cornel was in full 
blossom. 
It is here that they pass the most interesting period of their 
lives ; and their arrival is hailed as the sure harbinger of 
approaching summer. Full of life and activity, these fiery 
sylphs are now seen vaulting and darting incessantly through 
the lofty boughs of our tallest trees ; appearing and vanishing 
with restless inquietude, and flashing at quick intervals into 
sight from amidst the tender waving foliage, they seem like 
living gems intended to decorate the verdant garment of the 
new-clad forest. But the gay Baltimore is neither idle nor 
capricious ; the beautiful small beetles and other active-winged 
insects on which he now principally feeds are in constant mo- 
tion, and require perpetual address in their capture. At first 
the males only arrive, but without appearing in flocks ; their 
mates are yet behind, and their social delight is incomplete. 
They appear to feel this temporary bereavement, and in shrill 
and loud notes they fife out their tender plaints in quick suc- 
cession, as they pry and spring through the shady boughs for 
their tiny and eluding prey. They also now spend much time 
in the apple-trees, often sipping honey from the white blossoms, 
over which they wander with peculiar delight, continually roving 
amidst the sweet and flowery profusion. The mellow whistled 
notes which they are heard to trumpet from the high branches 
of our tallest trees and gigantic elms resemble, at times, 
' tshippe-tshayia too too, and sometimes 'tshippee 'tshippee 
(lispingly) , too too (with the two last syllables loud and full) . 
These notes are also varied by some birds so as to resemble 
'tsh ’tsh ’tsheetshoo tshoo tshoop also 'tsh 'tshcefa ’tsheefd ’tsheefa 
1 The first three of these notes are derived from the Summer Y ellow Bird, 
though not its most usual tones. 
