ALAUDA ARVENSIS. 371 



that our national bard is also our national bird-poet, and that 

 he told the truth when saying — 



" The simple bard, rough, at the rustic plough, 

 Did learn his tuneful trade from every bough ;" 



and I hail this unassuming history of the birds found about 

 St Andrews to tell it, for in nearly every one of his poems and 

 songs allusion is made to some bird or other. Even in his 

 "Address to the Deil" (through his grannie's teaching) is 

 " Auld Sootie " likened to a drake, for he says — 



" A'e dreary, windy winter night, 

 The stars shot down wi' sklentin' light, 

 Wi' you, mysel', I gat a fright, 



Ayont the lough ! 

 Ye, like a rash-bush, stood in sight, 



Wi' waving sough. 



The cudgel in my hand did shake, 

 Each bristled hair stood like a stake, 

 When, wi' an eldritch stoor, quaick, quaick, 



Among the springs 

 Awa? ye squatter 'd, like a drake, 



On whistling wings." 



When he sings of " A Lass and she was fair," he tells us — 



But that — 



" The blithest bird upon the bush 

 Had ne'er a lighter heart than she ;" 



" Dangers, eagle-joinioned, bold, 

 Soar around each cliffy hold, 

 While cheerful peace, with linnet song. 

 Chants the lowly dells among." 



And, when painting piracy and murder, he paints with the 

 birds — 



Also- 



" A flight of bold eagles from Adrians strand, 



Whose pounces were murder, and terror their cry." 



The fell harpy-raven took wing from the north, 



The scourge of the seas, and the dread of the shore /" 



And, as our bird-taught poet ends his " Winter Night " with 

 the crow of a cock, so will I end these varied quotations in his 

 words — 



" I heard nae mair, for chanticleer 

 Shook aff the pouthery snaw, 

 And hailed the morning with a cheer — 

 A cottage-rousing craw. 



