32 BIRDS AND MAN 



that of the chimney swallow, which I listen to every 

 summer in England. 



I had meant in this chapter to give three or four 

 or half a dozen instances of birds seen at their best, 

 instead of the one I have given — that of the long- 

 tailed tit ; and as many more images in which a 

 rare, unforgettable effect was produced by melody. 

 For as with sights so it is with sounds : for these 

 too there are " special moments," which have 

 " special grace." But this chapter is already longer 

 than it was ever meant to be, and something on 

 another subject yet remains to be said. 



The question is sometimes asked, What is the 

 charm which you find, or say you find, in nature ? 

 Is it real, or do these words so often repeated have a 

 merely conventional meaning, like so many other 

 words and phrases which men use with regard to 

 other things ? Birds, for instance : apart from the 

 interest which the ornithologists must take in his 

 subject, what substantial happiness can be got out 

 of these shy creatures, mostly small and not too 

 well seen, that fly from us when approached, and 

 utter sounds which at their best are so poor, so thin, 

 so trivial, compared with our soul- stirring human 

 music ? 



