The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21
SEASON OF TIE SONG BIRDS.
Notes Now to he Heard In the Music of tn,
Woodland Orchestra.

w
1t js full orchestra with the birds hereahouts
before it is full leaf with the trees and shrubs.
Everybody who knows CentralP Park must nsso-
ciate the delicious whistle Of the oriole with tho
fresh verdure and almost intolerably brilliant
sunshine Of mid-May. By the time the oriole
begins to whistle all the song birds are here
and singing their whole repertoire. The ORIOLES
note. however. is the musical cpitome OF the
season. an airy. careful call. that seems 10
speak the delight Of the bird In his own splen-
dor. in the mild delicious air. in the inexrres-
sible freshness OF the new greenery.
The whole thrush tribe is there singing. The
robins have by that time for some days been
busy with household cares. The catbird. in his
sad-colored coat. with it's lining OF dun rose. is
pouring forth his capricious song in length
and irregularity nearer akin to the ode than to
aught else in human poetry. II Is. indeed. the
longest song Of the summer save that OF the
brownthrasher. the great thrush. lover OF Or
chard. OF country hedge rows. and Of dusty
highways. You may hear and sec the brown
thrasher on any morning these days up in tho
northern suburbs. He looks for all the world
like the woodthrush masQuerading in a long
tailed coat. There Is nearly the same cinnamon
bnck. much the sam speckled breast, tho
same speed on the wing, but more eauciness.
same instinct for singing solitary at sunset.
Now. while yet the sunshine falls freely
lands, and. while the woodland ways are en-
riched with the rags and tatters OF the budding
tsasSSn n the sr sdpi linen sNdb er m;m ,c OF the o hickory
T9p You nav hear his Keen yet liquid
water upon naked rocks, This is aiternnted at
S Wsrn dper note OF thes BIRD" a throaty call rich in
the suggestion OF musical possibilities: Tho
pioSed i by the w'1 mot m%rG BIRD I'd to oPhs sr yOams. is en-
at its fhiissheStt from mid MAY 10 the season Of
Htii rr1isse Settle G" down ySf t" dome.ssti" care. Af BY mia fi
June the. suburban woodlands are taking on
have withdrawn for miles from its own bounds.
Familiar landmarks have been swallowed up
II rI,G GTs"n t"1;, m GeEtTln of fp Tirse4 lG sSH lies and
OF city streets, have melted into the green
Harlan SrSSn o css glrd' IRE N9bih ssen o4 SgSy on in t fH,
oSStf q the dsgfS: = ssSm!nFiy intsrmjnaSSS'!ss'
as. heard 3 TIE North Woods, might wen seem
t. Less sm sntSrsst ts9 with zsSy ts spi aido n the 81 T ths W"SS.
t. the so g6n song q the Woo thrmsh.
tlRRFc % nnycqh HG psraf Re 81 tho hot RRRi ra i as s" %i,Rfn 'F fGS
isilc note o. the suburban mIdsummer.
One must have a long and intim ate acquaint-
ance with the wood thrush to realize in what a
The skill Of different birds greatly varies. and
some seem really ia, have studied. true musical
| tones In a fashion TO give new character to u
familiar song; A suburban listener has, heard
be a young wood thrush. perhaps. a Nesting Of
two years ago, 1t lie sweet and true. but n
little weak and lacking the supreme glory and
year after year from thu top OF a now
fallen oak tree. Tho mature song, Of tn"
his hest, is well worth a long journey md
hours ~ patient listening; Nothing else quite
so we'll interprsts the semi-trQpical richness Of
the suburban midsummer, Heard anywhere
II brinGs to the accustomed l~lstener a vision of
aSsnnshiiSSee at sSySt rar"iy pe8etrntesK Ike thiesiy
matched roof or disturbs the odorous glooms
aAd damps Of vine-Smbowersd thickets.