24 
BIRDS 
the imagination by their invisible and 
unknown journeyings. To be sure, we 
know they follow the opening season 
north and the retreating summer south; 
but who will point to the parallels that 
mark the limits of their wandering, or 
take us to their most secret haunts? 
What greater marvel than this simple 
gift of music? What beside birds and 
the human species sing? It is the crown¬ 
ing gift; through it the field and forest 
are justified. Nature said, “These rude 
forms and forces must have a spokesman 
of their own nursing; here are flowers 
and odor, let there be music also/' I 
suspect the subtile spirit of the meadow 
took form in the Bobolink, that the high 
pasture-lands begot the Vesper-Sparrow, 
and that from the imprisoned sense and 
harmony of the forests sprang the Wood- 
Thrush. 
From the life of birds being on a more 
intense and vehement scale than that of 
other animals result their musical gifts 
and their holiday expression of joy. How 
restless and curious they are! Jheir poise 
and attitudes, how various, rapid, and 
