CHAPTER III. 
DISPOSITION. 
“ Ihm gaben die Gotter das reine Gemiith 
Wo die Welt sich, die ewige, spiegelt.” 
Schiller. 
Whoevek has listened to a bird's song with any 
degree of intelligence, has assuredly been able to read 
the little creature’s heart through its spirit-stirring 
melody. Indeed, the word song suffices in itself to 
prove the joyousness and blithesome disposition of this 
happy being. But I must here take the opportunity to 
relate much that is so charming as to forbid silence. 
Doubtless, song is the very flower of feeling in its prime; 
it may be objected that it is only the awakening to life of 
the heart’s love in the opposite sex, and can only, in this 
respect, be regarded as an amatory instinct. I do not feel 
disposed to contradict this ; although I have somewhat to 
add to the objection, for the song of the bird, as the 
expert well knows, is the echo and reflection of the carols 
of spring; a bird singing is its triumphant harbinger. 
After the cheering sun is gone, the song is no longer 
heard. Even in the heyday of love, when his warm rays 
beam forth, the glance and glitter of the spring touch 
the bird to its heart’s core, and it pours forth its soul in 
rapturous songs of praise to that life-giving power. Love 
remains the same, whether in the sweltering heat of 
