256 THE SONG THRUSH, OR MAVIS. 



The mavis, like the lark and all our song birds, is an early 

 stirrer. It is impossible to anticipate his morning song, as I 

 have often proved in the long days of June, when the short 

 night was scarcely done when morning rose — in fact, the night 

 with morning mingled. I have heard his cheering song 

 betwixt one and two a.m. from some tall tree, while the lark 

 was trilling a still more cheerful one with loftier melody 

 higher up in the sky, when the early cock's shrill clarion was 

 hushed between two of his plumpest wives in his feathered 

 harem. The thrush's peculiar song, or symphony, has been 

 tried to be writ in rhyme, but with poor success, as the 

 following shows — 



" Dear, dear, dear 



Is the rocky glen ; 

 Far away, far away, far away 



The haunts of men ! 

 Here shall we dwell in love, 

 With the lark and the dove, 

 Cuckoo and corn rail ; 

 Feast on the banded snail, 



Worm and gilded fly ; 

 Drink of the crystal rill 

 Winding down the hill, 



Never too dry. 



With glee ! with glee ! 



Cheer up ! cheer up ! cheer up ! here 

 Nothing to harm us ; then sing merrily, 

 Sing to the loved one whose nest is near. 

 Qui, qui, qui, kween, quip, 

 Tiurru, tiurru, chipiwi, 

 Too-tee, too-tee, chiu, choe, 

 Chirri, chirri, choee, 

 Quiu, qui, qui." 



But the varied song of this thrush is indescribable. To me 

 its wild and varied notes are more soul stirring than the mellow 

 whistle of the blackbird, and have a more pleasing effect than 

 even the more cheerful song of the lark. It is heard at all 

 times, but chiefly at early morn and dewy eve, nor ceases 

 though the moon glowers doon to question its propriety. 

 From this it is aptly called the Scottish nightingale ; and Burns, 

 our National bard, took note of this among the "Braes o' 

 Ballochmyle," for, as already noted, he says — 



" 'Twos even — the dewy fields were green, 

 On every blade the pearls hang, 

 The zephyrs wanton'd round the bean, 

 And bore its fragrant sweets alang ; 



