The Birds of Shakespeare 
of any reasoning faculty, and gifted only 
with what is called “instinct,” they are 
felt to be linked with us by the possession 
of many qualities that are closely akin to 
some of the purest virtues of humanity. 
And they are acknowledged to be fellow- 
creatures, partners with us in the great 
mystery of life. They are communed 
with as if man’s longings could be made 
known to them, and as if they in turn 
might be brought to feel the reality and 
depth of his affectionate interest in them, 
or even perhaps be induced to reveal to 
him the secret of their careless happiness. 
The poets in their mystic rapture idealise 
these songsters until they almost seem 
to cease to be corporeal beings. Thus 
Wordsworth: 
O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird, 
Or but a wandering voice ? 
Even yet thou art to me 
No bird, but an invisible thing, 
A voice, a mystery. 
II4 
