36 
BIRDS 
and loquacity of the Swallows, and the 
like. Even the Hen has a homely, con¬ 
tented carol; and I credit the Owls with 
a desire to fill the night with music. All 
birds are incipient or would-be songsters 
in the spring. I find corroborative evi¬ 
dence of this even in the crowing of the 
Cock. The flowering of the Maple is not 
so obvious as that of the Magnolia; nev¬ 
ertheless, there is actual inflorescence. 
Neither Wilson nor Audubon, 1 believe, 
awards any song to that familiar little 
Sparrow, the Socialis; yet who that has 
observed him sitting by the wayside, and 
repeating, with devout attitude, that fine 
sliding chant, does not recognize the neg¬ 
lect? Who has heard the Snow-Bird 
sing? Not the ornithologist, it seems; 
yet he has a lisping warble very savory 
to the ear. 1 have heard him indulge in 
it even in February. 
Even the Cow-Bunting feels the mu¬ 
sical tendency, and aspires to its expres¬ 
sion, with the rest. Perched upon the 
topmost branch beside his mate or mates, 
—for he is quite a polygamist, and us¬ 
ually has two or three demure little ladies 
