310 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
poured out often from the rising dawn of day to the ap- 
proach of evening, and vigorous even during the sultry 
heat of noon, when most other birds are silent, gives ad- 
ditional interest to this little vocalist. While chanting 
forth his easy, flowing, tender airs, apparently without 
effort, so contrasted with the interrupted emphatical song 
of the Red-Eye, he is gliding along the thick and leafy 
branches of our majestic Elms, and tallest trees, busied in 
quest of his restless insect prey. With us, as in Penn- 
sylvania, the species is almost wholly confined to our vil- 
lages, and even cities. They are rarely ever observed in 
the woods ; but from the tall trees which decorate the 
streets and lanes, the almost invisible musician, secured 
from the enemies of the forest, is heard to cheer the 
house and cottage with his untiring song. As late as 
the 2d of October I still distinguished his tuneful voice, 
from amidst the yellow fading leaves of the linden, near 
which he had passed away the summer. The approach- 
ing dissolution of those delightful connexions, which 
had been cemented by affection, and the cheerless still- 
ness of autumn, still called up a feeble and plaintive 
reverie. Some days after this late period, warmed by 
the mild rays of the morning sun, I heard, as it were, 
faintly warbled, a parting whisper ; and about the middle 
of this month, our vocal woods and fields were once 
more left in dreary silence. 
u And through the sadden’d grove [now] scarce is heard 
One dying strain, to cheer the woodman’s toil. 
While congregated Thrushes, Linnets, Larks, 
And each wild throat, whose artless strains so late 
Swell’d all the music of the swarming shades, 
Robb’d of their tuneful [songs], now shivering sit 
On the dead tree, a dull, despondent flock ; 
With nought save [plaintive] discord in their note.” 
