122 A BOOK OF BIRDS 



well, it is a notorious fact that some of the most dowdily clad are 

 among the sweetest of all songsters. And this is peculiarly true of 

 the Nightingale (Plate XXIX. fig. 6), a bird which, by common 

 consent, has been regarded as the Prince of singers. The wonderful 

 music of this bird has formed the theme of some of the finest poetry, 

 both ancient and modern, and this by eastern as well as western 

 bards. Curiously enough, the western counties of England, Wales, 

 and Ireland are rarely or never visited by this bird, nor is Scotland 

 more favoured. 



Even the most enthusiastic admirers of the Nightingale admit 

 that the Blackcap (Plate XXIV. fig. lo), in some respects, is almost 

 as skilled a performer. Gilbert White described the Black-cap as a 

 delicate songster, and declared that the notes of this bird always 

 brought to his mind Shakespeare's lines : 



And tune his merry note 

 Unto the wild bird's throat. 



It is, moreover, more widely distributed than the Nightingale, 

 Ireland and Scotland, as well as England and Wales, enjoying the 

 privilege of sheltering this bird during the summer months. The 

 female Black- cap has the crown of the head a dull chestnut, and so 

 also have the young in their first plumage. 



Another sweet singer, but far inferior to the Nightingale and the 

 Blackcap, is the White-throat (Plate XXIV. fig. 9). One of the 

 commonest of our summer visitants, there must be few dwellers in 

 the country who do not know and cherish an affection for this 

 modest little bird. The male displays great courage where the 

 safety of his home and young is concerned. Human intruders on 

 his domain are followed along the hedgerow wherein his treasures 

 lie snugly concealed with every demonstration of agitation and con- 

 cern. He flits from branch to branch, with every feather of his 

 throat and crest on end, and tail widely spread, while every now and 

 then he shoots up into the air and descends again almost vertically. 

 And this scolding, vigorouSj remonstrance he keeps up till danger is 

 past. 



The Thrush family is a fairly large one. Not only does it in- 

 clude the true Thrushes, such as we have already described, but 



