178 OUB SONGBIRDS. [Jax., 



on the outskirts of plantations, but it prefers the tangled hedgerows 

 in the open country. Its song is very quaint, and has a dying fall 

 about it ; it seems to express the idea contained in the old Scotch 

 words, ' a wedeaway.' The traveller, weary and footsore, far from 

 any human habitation, hearing this plaintive strain coming from a 

 brier-bush by the wayside, will feel that it is quite in keeping with his 

 own feelings and the louely situation. These half-dozen birds may 

 be regarded as our principal singers, although there are many more in 

 our woods, such as the Wren and Hedge-sparrow, who help to swell 

 the general chorus by an occasional song. 



In order to hear the birds at their best, you must get up, some morn- 

 ing in the first or second week of May, at two a.m.; for, although they 

 can be heard at any time during the day, there is a volume and bright- 

 ness about the singing which can only be heard in the early morning. 

 When stepping into the woods at that time, the first thing that strikes 

 you is the great stillness that reigns — a stillness not of deatli, but of 

 repose. Perhaps you will hear far off in the fields the Corncrake 

 rasping over his fa.miliar tune : if there are any streams near by, the 

 sound of their running waters will be mellowed, and will fall with a 

 soothing effect upon the ear ; but in the woods themselves not a sound 

 is heard. This year I found the air laden with perfume from the 

 Hawthorn, and a thin white mist floated over the fields. The bird 

 that first begins to sing is either a Eobin or a Mavis : this year it was 

 a Eobin, who sang two or three minutes all alone. It is remarkable, 

 however, how quickly the other birds join in ; from the time that the 

 first note is heard, not fifteen minutes pass until the whole woods are 

 ringing with song. After listening awhile, you discover that the Black- 

 birds do the greater part of the singing ; there is no break or pause 

 in it, it flows on one continuous stream, while that of the others is like 

 so many rills running into it. While there is a most beautiful blending 

 of all their notes, each bird can yet be heard distinctly. You can 

 hear the Mavis pouring out his heart in clear ringing notes, sometimes 

 in tones of authority like a drill-sergeant, at other times in snatches of 

 beautiful melody, but at such a furious tempo that we can scarcely 

 follow him. 



The Eobin is heard at short intervals, clearand distinct as a piccolo, 

 in an orchestra. The Field-sparrow also interjects his quaint chatter 

 along with the little Wren, who rattles off his crisp tune, all of which 

 gives a pleasing birr and variety to the music. Here, then, when the 

 world is asleep, the woods far and wide are resounding with a joyful 

 outburst of song. At such a time and place there is nothing to distract 

 the attention, so that you can drink in this unalloyed pleasure to 

 your heart's content ; for there is no doubt it is one of the purest and 

 most heart-stirring experiences that one can enjoy. The singing goes 



