SPRING BIRD LIFE 25 



reed-warbler. His chiding is harsher than the 

 whitethroat's. It is amusing to pass between the 

 brambles on the bank, and the willow or alder 

 bushes by the stream, and listen to the scolding 

 on either side. The song is continuous, and 

 largely imitative, with some notes that remind us 

 of the mavis, and some of the clearer quality of 

 the robin, with a grating accompaniment through- 

 out, which is all his own. 



The nightingale deserves a division to himself, 

 and serves as an example that, in bird as in 

 woman, plainness of appearance and beauty of 

 song or spirit may go together. The nightingale 

 is looked for in the lanes, and thickets on May day ; 

 and greets the English villagers around the May- 

 pole. The headquarters are in Surrey, where the 

 bird is said to sing sweeter than elsewhere. The 

 range is from the Isle of Wight to Yorkshire. He 

 is, thus, an English bird, and his relation to 

 Scotland is that only of an absentee. Any report 

 of his appearance here must be received with 

 caution, if not with suspicion. Although, if less 

 persecuted, he might soon become Scots. 



An interesting, if unsuccessful, attempt was 

 once made to enlighten the dreary Caithness 

 landscape with nightingale music. Sir John 



