The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-05-29
An American ScHcster.

One of the most familiar of the truly
forest songs OF our country is the
peculiar cresendo chant of the ovenbIrd.
or golden-crowned thrush. 1t sounds
like repetition of the word teacher"
eight or ten times in succession, begun
in whisper, but with added empha-
sis at each repetition, till the final
bar is rung out with extraordinary
force and volume. This is the
characteristic song of the bird; it utters
with untiring zeal throughout the
mating season. and it is to be heard
daily in every woodland of eastern North
America.
Until lately this was supposed to be
its only song; but, about fourteen years
ago, two naturalist announced indie
pendently the fact that the teacher"
song is nothing more than a mere call
note, and that at certain seasons the
bird rises into the air far above the
tops of the forest trees and there, as
he floats on guivering wing. pours
forth loud, sweet lark-like song.
The first time / remember hearing
the song. it was uttered as a hymn of
gratitude. | had often heard the
teacher note of pair of ovenbirds
in wood where | daily walked. OF
course / knew they had a nest some
where near, but | failed to find it until
early in June, when the young should
have been Matched / was walking
along the path in this wood. one after
noon, when suddenly at my feet APP
peared an ovenbird, trailing her bright
plumes in the dust and crawling about
me il silent agony. | stood perfectly
still, not little surprised; for usually
this bird is noisy when its nest is APP
preached. In another instant | per-
ceiyed the other parent-bird, behaving
in much the same way. But, though
his voice was hushed and his feathers
bristling with terror he was yet max
ing repeated thrusts with his beak at
something. A second glance and
made out long, sinuous form that was
living ZigZag over the leaves-the
glistening form of serpent; but its
head was hidden under dome-shaped
mass of twigs that until now. had es-
capped my notice; and then the browning
touch of horror was added, for this was
the nest, and the snake was about to
devour the young! Incver saw more
pitiful sight than these poor parent
birds in their complies abandon of
grief. Their strength seemed entirely
spent. They continued silent as be-
fore, but again and again assaulted the
reptile. 1t could easily have caught
them as they were reduced TO helpless
ness by their terror, but it was intent
on its younger prey, and paid no heed
10 In faaIla attack pF Z I,a L;,.lc
/ reached down and touched the loath-
some creature, but it did not move. so
! took it by the tail and dragged it out.
The change in its demeanor was Won
derful, when it found that it now had a
foeman who could harm it. 1t dropped
young ovenbird, and wriggled and
squirmed to free itself. 1t struck at
me savagely but | held it SO that it
could not reach me, and presently
changed my hold to its neck, and so
bore it away. The ovenbirds seemed
hardly to realize their escape, being
too deeply stricken to recover at once.
But, before long, they were caring for
their chilled and tesrified brood.
Next evening | returned to the place,
and rs | drew near | heard above the
trees, in the quiet purple of the twi-
light, the wild, ecstatic air-song of the
oven-bird- weird, mysterious bird
voice the origin of which was so long
puzzle to naturalists. When this
vesper-hymn was over and the musician
sailed downward. | knew that | had
had heard the thanksgiving of the
grateful bird whose home my timely
coming had saved from the ravages of
the serpent.-ErneSt e. Thompson, TN
st. Nicholas.