EL CAPITAN 
tucked themselves away in the lee of a straw- 
stack, for there they were on the very first 
hint of bright weather. There also were 
juncos and song sparrows — a companion- 
ship not usually sought by the red-wings. 
Among this crowd was one who seemed to 
hold aloof or to be ostracized by the rest. 
Every evening, just at sunset, he took up 
his favorite position all alone on the tip- 
top bough of a tall oak-tree, and sang un- 
til the last purple ray had faded from the 
sky. Each morning from the same high 
perch he sent a greeting to the day. Know- 
ing how gregarious blackbirds are, I won- 
dered why he was so seldom with the rest. 
At length I was forced to believe that it was 
not from choice, for every time he ap- 
proached them he was received with a chilly 
silence and great tail-wagging. And how 
much cdntempt a blackbird can express with 
his tail ! 
The reason was found in what seemed to 
me his especial distinction ; for, by a strange 
freak, his shoulders were pure white instead 
43 
