16 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



breast, and the blue bluer on the head of the 

 chaffinch; the green flashes out more vividly in 

 the male greenfinch ; the metallic colours scintillate 

 more brilliantly on the coat of the starling ; and 

 the beak of the blackbird shows signs of fresh 

 dipping. But no surprise is greater, or more de- 

 lightful than the change in the yellow-hammer; 

 and, nowhere does yellow look so bright and 

 pleasant in springtime, as in the head of that bird, 

 except perhaps it may be on the breast of the 

 grey wagtail. 



Men-children should never lose their passion for 

 bird-nesting ; not with a view of robbing, or even of 

 disturbing the builder, which would be unmanly ; 

 but, only, to enter once a year into fairyland. 



I should as soon think of letting spring pass 

 without seeing the larch hang out its tassels 

 against the dark green of the pinewood ; the beech 

 shake out afresh its pale green leaves; the apple- 

 tree cover itself with blossoms ; the cuckoo-flower 

 blow on the meadows; the veronica reflect the 

 tender azure of the sky; the forget-me-not reveal 

 its deeper blue through the grass by the stream- 

 side ; as miss the annual peep, behind the leaves, 

 and through the thorns, at the mossy nest with its 

 four oval eggs. 



