Bird Lite in a Suburban Parish 



Oi 



nuinbcr of its nests wliich are destroyed by Ijoys and vermin 

 (one is almost tempted to write "boys and otlier vermin") 

 in tlie early part of the year, is still one of tlie eommonest 

 of onr native birds. In tlie early hours of tlie niornin(>', and 

 again in the evenin<4-, it mounts to the topmost spray of 

 some tree and ])()urs forth its pleasant s()n<^'. This is but a 

 simple melody, mostly made up of repetitions of sinole notes, 

 in which traces of almost articulate speech can be detected. 



Young Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia ciiniica). 



One bird repeats, "Did he do it f did he do it?" and 

 another, " Cup of tea, cup of tea," over and over again. Eut 

 so pure and fresh is its voice, and so clear and melodious 

 are its notes, as to earn for it the admiration of all. Its 

 rank as a musician is so fidly recognised, even by science, 

 as to be shown in its scientific name — Turdiis niu.sicu.s ; and 

 not only so, but it has earned for its family the foremost 

 place in the scientific order of birds, as embodying the highest 



