Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 



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Pied Wagtail's Nest with Young {Molacilla liigtibris). 



frogs. Their song may be heard in every direction in the 

 fields and in many of the gardens, not only in the evening, 

 but at all hours of the day. The quite mistaken notion 

 that it only sings at night is probably traceable to the 

 poets, who are also responsible for the idea that the song- 

 is of a melancholy nature. This may be perceptible per- 

 haps to the poetic mind, which may be, and probably is, 

 more sensitive to minute shades of expression than that 

 of ordinary folk ; to me the song seems the result of 

 intense joy. 



Poets are, in fact, not to be trusted, however nmch they 

 may be admired. The truth is not in tliem and concerns 

 tliem not. A good rhyme or a well-rounded sequence of 



