94 MUSIC OF BIRDS. 



earth; and sings as she ascends higher into the 

 air, and having ended her heavenly employment, 

 grows then mute and sad, to think she must 

 descend to the dull earth, which she would not 

 touch, but for necessity. How do the Blackbird 

 and Throssel with their melodious voices bid 

 welcome to the cheerful spring, and in their fixed 

 months warble forth such ditties as no art or in- 

 strument can reach to ! Nay, the smaller birds, 

 also do the like in .their particular seasons, as 

 namely, the Laverock, the Tit-lark, the little 

 Linnet, and the honest Robin that loves mankind 

 both alive and dead. But the Nightingale, ano- 

 ther of my airy creatures, breathes such sweet 

 loud music out of her little instrumental throat, 

 that it might make mankind to think miracles 

 are not ceased. He that at midnight, when the 

 very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I 

 have very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, 

 the natural rising and falling, the doubling and 

 redoubling of her voice, might well be lifted 

 above earth, and say, Lord, what music hast thou 

 provided for the saints in heaven, when thou 

 affordest bad men such music on earth ." 



I have always considered this as one of the 

 most exquisite descriptions in Walton's Angler. 

 No one but a true lover of nature could have 

 written it, and the impressive beauty of the con- 



