256 THE BEAUTIFUL *LADDER. 
ed by keeping up an unearthly screaming as 
long as the singing could be heard. 
“ But, wonderful as are the acquisitions of 
the parrots, their abilities lack the spontaneity 
and sweetness of the natural singers of the 
grove—the thrushes, finches, and other mem¬ 
bers of the order of Oscines. Their exhibitions 
of skill are acquired, and, as all art is but an 
imitation of Nature, ever falls as short of per¬ 
fection as the shadow does of the substance, 
so does the chatter of the parrots fail to equal 
the vocal sweetness of the true singers. In¬ 
deed, the vocalization of man can hardly reach 
the melody of the bird in this regard. If the 
strains of the former were divested of the pow¬ 
er of expressing sentiment and emotion, as un¬ 
der the control of reason, the birds would carry 
off the palm of victory. Few, if any, will call 
in question this statement when listening, on a 
a bright spring morning, to the bird^melodies 
which greet the ear from grove and thicket 
when the first bright beams have 
‘Touched the wood-bird’s folded wing, 
And said, “ O bird, awake and sing.” ’ 
“ It has already been stated that birds of 
