PHILLIDA AND CORIDON. 117 
self. This would be a pretty picture. Unfor- 
tunately, it is looked for in vain. The two or 
three singers may be found, likely enough ; but 
the female, if she be indeed within hearing, is 
modestly hidden away somewhere in the bushes, 
and our student is none the wiser. Let him 
watch as long as he please, he will hardly see 
the prize awarded. 
Nevertheless he need not grudge the time 
thus employed; not, at any rate, if he be sensi- 
tive to music. For it will be found that birds 
have at least one attribute of genius: they can 
do their best only on great occasions. Our 
brown thrush, for instance, is a magnificent 
singer, albeit he is not of the best school, be- 
ing too “sensational” to suit the most exacting 
taste. His song is a grand improvisation: a 
good deal jumbled, to be sure, and without any 
recognizable form or theme; and yet, like a 
Liszt rhapsody, it perfectly answers its purpose, 
— that is, it gives the performer full scope to 
show what he can do with his instrument. You 
may laugh a little, if you like, at an occasional 
grotesque or overwrought passage, but unless 
you are well used to it you will surely be aston- 
ished. Such power and range of voice; such ~ 
startling transitions ; such endless variety! And 
withal such boundless enthusiasm and almost 
incredible endurance! Regarded as pure mu- 
