Look what a nice new coat is mine;

Sure, there was never a bird so fine.
Chee, chee, chee!"

3

Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,

Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life,

Broods in the grass while her husband sings: "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Brood, kind creature; you need not fear

Thieves and robbers while I am here.

Chee, chee, chee!"

4

Modest and shy as a nun is she;
One weak chirp is her only note;
Braggart, and prince of braggarts is he,
Pouring boasts from his little throat,
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Never was I afraid of man,

Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can.
Chee, chee, chee!"

5

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,

Flecked with purple, a pretty sight,

There, as the mother sits all day,

Robert is singing with all his might: "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Nice good wife that never goes out,
Keeping house while I frolic about.
Chee, chee, chee!"

Historical:

HELPS TO STUDY.

moults in midsummer, taking on In the

The mala bobolink moult Quaker wife."

"plain brown" plumage like that of his

spring he regains his black and buff colors without moulting any feathers. He sings only in the spring.

135

THE BIRDS' ORCHESTRA.

CELIA THAXTER.

Bobolink shall play the violin,

Great applause to win;

Lonely, sweet, and sad, the meadow-lark
Plays the oboe. Hark!

Yellow-bird the clarionet shall play,

Blithe, and clear, and gay.

Purple-finch what instrument will suit?

He can play the flute.

Fire-winged blackbirds sound the merry fife,

Soldiers without strife;

And the robins wind the mellow horn

Loudly, eve and morn.

Who shall clash the cymbals? Jay and crow,

That is all they know;

And, to roll the deep melodious drum,

Lo! the bull-frogs come.

With joy and love of him who sent thee,

And for the fulfilling sense

Of that glad obedience

Which made thee all that nature meant thee!