Evening star., 1936-05-14

of an old-fashioned music box. These
sounds somewhat resemble the discords
which musicians sometimes put in their
measures, so that harmony which arises
out Of them may seem all the more
harmonious.
The human musician who attempts to
improve on the wood thrushs song will
have job on his hands. 1t is easily put
into three-four, or waltz time, but there
the thing ends. Any attempt to build
1t up as written music must be built up
results in something sophomore, in COM
parison With the original. Thus Nature
shows one that her efforts are not 20 be
tampered with, except at probable loss.
\ II
The house wren must be both heard
and seen for the true appreciation of
its song.
BY itself. the wren song, even in the
moments Of courtship, Is nothing much.
To some listeners it is a cross between
an unmusical whistle and the whinny
of a horse.
When the listener becomes observer,
too. he sees the little fellow, a neat
symphony Of browns, fairly using his
entire being in the song.
Then, and then only, the song of the
wren becomes something worth listen
ing to, as the bird makes music from
tip of claws to end of long beak. from
his tilted pert tail to the very top of
his round little head.
Last Sunday morning was frightened
by brief visit from the indigo bunting,
lovely and shy visitor to suburban
gardens at this time.
One will have to look sharp, however,
If the bunting is seen at all, for it
seldom fingers. 1t may be seen in grassy
places where there is likelihood of many
seeds. 1t eats sedately, remaining in
one spot, and often not bothering to
turn around.
Look for this one. therefore, on the
ground, a bit of blue there, slightly re-
sembling the paper used around absorb
ent cotton in the box. 1t is an unusual
blue, which again might be said to re-
semble slightly the reverse side of a
sheet OF purple carbon paper. 1t is
entirely different from the blue of the
bluebird or the blues of the bluejay.
If you see this unusual blue on the
ground-which some manner long ago
tried to designate by the word indigo
feel pretty sure it is this bunting. He
Is just little larger than an English
sparrow, but his color will make him
seem larger.
In attempting to talk about bird
colors all observers must make allow
ance for their own eyes. It is here, as
with happeningS-one observer will see
1t one way, the next another way, and
seldom the twain shall meet. 1t is well,
therefore, not to be too positive about
colors as observed.
The blue grosbeak, for instance, some
what resembles the indigo bunting, but
its wings have chestnut in them, instead
Of a soft wash Of brown, as it is de-
scribed in the books. II two observers
see the latter, one may see it brown" +"
the other Chestnut" without any real
difference
Hence those not familiar with either
and with only colored illustrations to go
by, will find it essential to read about
the habits of the two, and note partic-
ularly that the bunting prefers to feed
on the ground. amid grasses and the
like. If their bird fulfills this require
ment, it may be put down safely as the
indigo bunting, whatever dispute there
may be about its coloration. Colors,
while important, are far from the only
marks of identification. In bird observa-
ton discriminatory watching is essential