35 



and means, the smallest of birds — or, specially here, — a 

 titmonse. I have seldom had a less expected or more 

 iornominious fall from the clonds. 



37. The other birds, named here and in the previous 

 description of the garden, are introduced, as far as I can 

 judge, nearly at random, and with no precision of imagina- 

 tion like that of Aristophanes ; but with a sweet childish 

 delight in crowding as many birds as possil)le into the 

 smallest space. The popinjay is always prominent ; and I 

 want some of you to hel^:* me (for I have not time at pres- 

 ent for the chase) in hunting the parrot down on his first 

 appearance in Europe. Just at this particular time he con- 

 tested favour even with the falcon ; and I think it a piece 

 of good fortune that I chanced to draw for you, thinking 

 only of its brilliant colour, the popinjay, which Carpaccio 

 allows to be present on the grave occasion of St. George's 

 baptizing the princess and her father. 



38. And, indeed, as soon as the Christian poets begin 

 to speak of the singing of the birds, they show themselves 

 in quite a different mood from any that ever occurs to a 

 Greek. Aristophanes, with infinitely more skill, de- 

 scribes, and partly imitates, the singing of the nightin- 

 gale ; but simply as beautiful sound. It '^ fills the thick- 

 ets with honey; " and if in the often-quoted — just because 

 it is not characteristic of Greek literature — passage 

 of the Coloneus, a deeper sentiment is shown, that feel- 

 ing is dependent on association of the bird-voices witli 

 deeply pathetic circumstances. But this troubadour 



