This early work by Maurice Thompson was originally published in 1887 and contains a delightful collection of essays on the subjects of nature and birdsong. This is a wonderful publication for all bird and nature-lovers, well deserving of its place atop any bookshelf and a veritable must-read for fans of Thompson’s work. Included within this compendium are: Sylvan Secrets, Beside the Gulf with Ruskin, Swamp Sketches, In the Matter of Shakespeare, The Motif of Bird-Song, The Genesis of Bird-Song, The Anatomy of Birdsong, et cetera. James Maurice Thompson (1844 – 1901) was an American novelist, whose other notable works include: The Ocala Boy (1895), A Banker of Bankersville (1886), and A Tallahassee Girl (1882). This scarce book has been elected for republication due to its educational and artistic value, proudly republished here with a new introductory biography of the author.