40 DOWN NIGHTINGALE VALLEY: 
have done) feeding near the cows and sheep, 
often alighting unmolested on their backs, to 
rid them of their ticks. The birds use their 
sharp pointed beaks with good effect in seek- 
ing out all sorts of pests, whether on animals, 
the grass, the earth or trees, and are there- 
fore of great use to the agriculturist, 350 
pray forgive this depredator when he steals 
your ripe cherries and your mulberries, which, 
by the way, he enjoys quite as much as you. 
I had frequent opportunities, during a long 
illness in my bed, of listening to their musi- 
cal attempts outside the window of my 
room, perched now upon a favourite bough, 
and then upon the gutter or the chimney 
top, And attempts they are, - scoopmes 
up and down the gamut, as a music teacher 
once said to me, for only now and then do 
they succeed in bringing out clear notes, 
though they will ‘sing’ for hours at a time, 
and as if burdened with an excess of happi- 
ness and joy. The bird is capable of strong 
and rapid flight, but I think the easy way 
in which he glides or sails along is worthy of 
