PHILLIDA AND COR I DON. 117 



self. This would be a pretty picture. Unfor- 

 tunately, it is looked for in vain. The two or 

 three singers may be found, likely enough ; but 

 the female, if she be indeed within hearing, is 

 modestly hidden away somewhere in the bushes, 

 and our student is none the wiser. Let him 

 watch as long as he please, he will hardly see 

 the prize awarded. 



Nevertheless he need not grudge the time 

 thus employed ; not, at any rate, if he be sensi- 

 tive to music. For it will be found that birds 

 have at least one attribute of genius : they can 

 do their best only on great occasions. Our 

 brown thrush, for instance, is a magnificent 

 singer, albeit he is not of the best school, be- 

 ing too " sensational " to suit the most exacting 

 taste. His song is a grand improvisation : a 

 good deal jumbled, to be sure, and without any 

 recognizable form or theme ; and yet, like a 

 Liszt rhapsody, it perfectly answers its purpose, 

 - — that is, it gives the performer full scope to 

 show what he can do with his instrument. You 

 may laugh a little, if you like, at an occasional 

 grotesque or overwrought passage, but unless 

 you are well used to it you will surely be aston- 

 ished. Such, power and range of voice ; such 

 startling transitions ; such endless variety ! And 

 withal such boundless enthusiasm and almost 

 incredible endurance! Regarded as pure mu- 



