214 A. L. Lane 



likened to the fall of a steam hammer; as he proceeds in circular 

 patrol during the night, round the spot where the female is brood- 

 ing her clutch, and woe betide the intruding jackal who does not 

 heed the warning. In the Northern Transvaal bush veld from 

 November a finch-like lark (Mirafra fringillaris) becomes very 

 plentiful. Its short song though somewhat monotonous is of 

 pleasing cadence, and though continuously heard all through the 

 day, is continued throughout the night at this season, by reason 

 of which it is locally honoured with the name of " nightingale "» 

 and in spite of its inferior performance, listening to a number of 

 them brought back sweet memories of wondrous summer nights 

 in the Weald of Kent, where the real nightingales form a wonder- 

 ful natural orchestra accompanied by the whirring notes of the 

 grasshopper warbler and other night congsters. 



Each region has its distinguishing features in this respect, but 

 there are few in which the voices of the night carmot fail to 

 stimulate a romantic interest in the true lover of nature. 



