24 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



pleases; and of which one never tires, however 

 often it is repeated. 



Comparisons are odious, but, sometimes, one pre- 

 fers it to that of the thrush. Each has its place, 

 probably has been coloured and attuned through 

 countless ages, by its surroundings. The thrush for 

 the morning, the blackbird for the evening, the 

 willow-wren to give expression to the sweet 

 sadness of the breathless, shadow-flecked summer 

 wood. 



In her nest, on the cool bank of the burn, pro- 

 tected by the faded leaves of a fallen beech twig, 

 or overhung by white wood-sorrel, or blue veronica, 

 the hen lays her eight or ten delicately-spotted 

 eggs. And, there she sits, through fourteen summer 

 days, looking out into the vista of branches, and 

 shadows. 



The whitethroat, known by the ray of sunlight 

 high up on the neck, is one of a group, very much 

 alike in structure, and habits, which includes the 

 blackcap, and the garden-warbler. He has a harsh 

 chiding note for the passer-by, and a warble, always 

 vigorous, and mainly sweet, for his mate. 



The sedge-warbler is the most familiar of an 

 aquatic group, found by stream-sides, and marshy 

 places, of which the only other Scots example is the 



