THE ENVIRONS OF BATH. 201 



that he does not remember to have heard them in greater perfection than 

 this year, and observes that he has frequently known them suddenly 

 leave his place for spots more protected from the cold winds prevailing at 

 the time. It is difficult to imagine so delightful a visitor could be un- 

 welcome anywhere, or under any circumstances, but a gentleman who 

 lives a few miles from here once complained to me that the songs of the 

 Nightingales disturbed his rest: how happy would many persons be under 

 such a charming infliction. They are to be heard in many places in this 

 neighbourhood, but the dell I have mentioned is not one of them, 

 although so likely in appearance. I am inclined to attribute the cause to 

 the consequence of the sewage of Weston being allowed to pollute the 

 brook in its course through the village; it is an unfortunate circumstance, 

 and operates very unfavourably in the foul appearance of the stream and 

 offensive nature of the smell. That such an atmosphere is not agreeable 

 to Nightingales I know, from what occurred at a place near Chippenham. 

 The situation was a pretty cluster of trees a short distance from the 

 town, known to be the resort of Nightingales for many years, but upon 

 the deposit of manure of an offensive character near the spot, the 

 Nightingales forsook it. 



The grating call of the Land-rail or Corn-crake I first noticed on the 

 evening of the 11th. of May, a few days later than last year; at his 

 first appearance he is not heard till after sunset, but as the grass grows 

 higher and affords more protection, his note is to be heard nearly 

 all day. It is not fitting to say appearance in reference to this 

 visitor, for he is never seen, and all attempts to discover him are vain. 

 If you walk in the direction of his cry he is quickly heard from the 

 opposite quarter, and on all sides. He is a perfect ventriloquist; few 

 people about here have ever seen him. I once saw one with a brood of 

 young on the turf at the road-side, but they vanished through the hedge 

 in an instant. The punctual arrival of these birds is remarkable, and 

 attended with more mystery than that of many others, from their inca- 

 pacity for flight. Their note is said to be more monotonous than that of 

 the Cuckoo; but there are times when even such sounds are pleasing, as 

 happened to me on the evening of the 21st. of May — the hour was late, 

 nearly midnight. Returning home from a visit in the neighbourhood, my 

 path was through the fields; the beauty of the night, and the perfect 

 tranquillity reigning around, induced me to sit upon a stile and contemplate. 

 The fresh breezes which had prevailed throughout the day had disappeared 

 with the sun, and nature was in perfect repose. The moon had passed 

 the meridian, and was hastening to the west, and, being near the full, 

 shone with considerable lustre, casting every object in strong shadow, and 

 defining every point in the surrounding landscape, not a cloud being seen 



