on every still morning before sunrise during May and June. His continued trilling note is to this warbling band like the octave flute, as heard in a grand concert of artificial instruments. The voices of numbers of his species, which are the first to be heard and the last to become silent in the morning, serve to fill up the pauses in this sylvan anthem like a running accompaniment in certain musical compositions. How little soever the Hair-Bird may be valued as a songster, his voice, I am sure, would be most sadly missed, were it nevermore to be heard charmingly blending with the louder voices of other choristers.

How often, on still sultry nights in summer, when hardly a breeze was stirring, and when the humming of the moth might be plainly heard as it glided by my open window; have I been charmed by the note of this little bird, uttered trillingly from the branch of a neighboring tree. He seems to be the sentinel whom Nature has appointed to watch for the first gleam of dawn, which he always faithfully announces before any other bird is awake. Two or three strains from his octave pipe are the signal for a general awakening of the birds, and one by one they join the song, until the whole air resounds with an harmonious medley of voices.

The Hair-Bird has a singular habit of sitting on the ground while thus chirping at early dawn; but I am confident he is perched in a tree during the night. The nest is most frequently placed upon an apple-tree, or upon some tall bush, seldom more than ten feet from the ground. I have found it in the vinery upon the trunk of an elm. It is very neatly constructed of the fibres of roots firmly woven together, and beautifully lined with fine soft hair, whence his name. It is unsurpassed in neatness and beauty by the nest of any other bird. The eggs are four in number, of a pale blue with dark spots.

THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

During all the pleasant days of autumn, when the thistle and sunflower are ripening their seeds, after the songs of the birds have ceased, and we greet them only as friends after the concert is over, we hear the plaintive chirping of the Hemp-Birds, and see the frequent flashing of their golden plumage among the thistles and goldenrods. Like butterflies they are seen in all the open pastures and meadows that abound in compound flowers, not in flocks, but scattered in great numbers, and always, when flying from one field to another, uttering their singularly plaintive but cheerful cry. This is so sweetly modulated that, when many of them are assembled, the songs of early summer seem to be temporarily revived. They are very familiar and active, always flitting about our flowergardens when they abound in marigolds and asters.

The Hemp-Bird bears considerable resemblance to the Canary in his habits and the notes of his song. Being deficient in compass and variety, he cannot be ranked with the finest of our songsters. But he has great sweetness of tone, and is equalled by few birds in the rapidity of his execution. His note of complaint is also like that of the Canary, and is heard at almost all times of the year. He utters, when flying, a rapid series of notes during the repeated undulations of his flight, and they seem to be uttered with each effort he makes to rise.

The female does not build her nest before the first broods of the Robin and the Song-Sparrow have flown. Mr. Augustus Fowler, of Danvers, thinks, from his observation of the habits of these birds when feeding their young, that the cause of this delay is "that they would be unable to find in the spring those milky seeds which are the necessary food for their young," and takes occasion to allude to that beneficent law of Nature pro

viding that these birds "should not bring forth their young until the time when the seeds used by them for food have passed into the milk, and may be easily dissolved by the stomach."

These little birds are remarkable for associating at a certain season, and singing as it were in choirs. "During spring and summer," says Mr. Fowler, "they rove about in small flocks, and in July will assemble together in considerable numbers on a particular tree, seemingly for no other purpose than to sing. These concerts are held by them on the forenoon of each day for a week or ten days, after which they soon build their nests. I am inclined to believe that this is the time of their courtship, and that they have a purpose in their meetings beside that of singing. If perchance one is heard in the air, the males utter their call-note with great emphasis, particularly if the new-comer be a female; and while, in her undulating flight, she describes a circle preparatory to alighting, they will stand almost erect, move their heads to the right and left, and burst simultaneously into song."

While engaged in these concerts it would seem as if they were governed by some rule that enabled them to time their voices, and to swell or diminish the volume of sound. Some of this effect is undoubtedly produced by the gradual manner in which the different voices join in harmony, beginning with one or two and increasing their numbers in rapid succession, until all are singing at once, and then in the same gradual manner becoming silent. One voice leads on another, the numbers multiplying, until they make a loud shout which dies away gradually, and a single voice winds up the chorus. These concerts are repeated at intervals for several days, ending probably with the period of courtship.

A singular habit of the Hemp-Bird is that of building a nest, and then tearing it to pieces, before any eggs have

been laid in it, and using the materials to make a new nest in another place. When I was a student I repeatedly observed this operation in some Lombardy poplars that grew before my study windows. I thought the male bird only addicted to this habit, and that it might be his method of amusing himself before his mate is ready to occupy the nest. This is made of cotton, the down of the fern, and other soft materials woven together with threads or the fibres of bark, and lined with cow's-hair. It is commonly placed in the fork of the slender branches of a maple, linden, or poplar, and is fastened to them with singular ingenuity.

ures.

THE PURPLE FINCH OR AMERICAN LINNET.

The American Linnet is almost a new acquaintance of many people in Eastern Massachusetts. In my early days, which were passed in Essex County, I seldom met one in my rambles. It is now very common in this region, and has been more generally observed since the custom of planting the spruce and the fir in our gardens and enclosThe Linnet, though not early in building its nest, is sometimes heard to sing earlier even than the SongSparrow. I have frequently heard his notes in March; and once, in a mild season, I heard one warbling cheerily on the 18th of February. But the Linnet does not persevere like the Song-Sparrow and other early birds. He may sing on a fine day in March, and you may not hear him again before the middle of April. Soon after that time he becomes a very constant singer.

The notes of this bird are very simple and melodious, delivered without precision, and different individuals differ exceedingly in capacity. It is generally believed that the young males are the best singers, and that age diminishes their vocal powers. This is the supposition of Mr.

Nuttall; but I have not been able to test the truth of it by my own observation. The greater number utter only a few strains, resembling the notes of the Brigadier. These are constantly repeated during the greater part of the day. The song usually consists of four or five strains, very much alike; but when the bird is animated he multiplies his notes ad libitum, varying the modulation only by greater emphasis. I have not observed that the Linnet is more prone to sing in the morning and evening than at any other hour.

The Linnet is a somewhat eccentric bird in his ways. He is usually high up in an elm or other tall tree when he sings, and almost out of sight, like the Brigadier. Hence he is as often heard in the elms in the city as in the country. He sings according to no rules, at no particular hour of the day, with but little regard to season, and utters notes that are wholly wanting in precision. His song is without a theme, and seems to be a sort of fantasia. He may often be seen sitting on a fence warbling with ecstasy and keeping his wings in rapid vibration all the while. He is also regardless of the mischief he may do. He feeds upon the flower-buds of the elm and then upon those of the pear-tree, thus damaging our gardens and keeping himself at a safe distance from the angry horticulturist after he has concluded his feast.

I have seen the Linnet frequently in confinement, which he very cheerfully bears; but he will not sing if he be placed near a Canary-Bird, nor does he at any time sing so well as in a state of freedom. He likewise changes his plumage; and soon, instead of a little brown bird with crimson neck, you see one variously mottled with brown and buff. The finest and most prolonged strains are delivered by the Linnet while on the wing. On such occasions only does he sing with fervor. While perched on a tree his song is usually short and not greatly