CHAP. xni. BIRDS OF BANFFSHIRE. 269 



shire, accompanied with Anecdotes." The list was 

 completed in eight articles, which appeared in 1856 

 and the two following years. Although his publica- 

 tions were received with much approval, they did 

 not serve to increase his income, for he never received 

 a farthing for any of his literary contributions. 



Before parting with Edward's descriptions of 

 birds, a few extracts may be given from his articles 

 in the Zoologist. And first, about song-birds : 



"The Song Thrush or Mavis (Turdus musicus). 

 Who is there that has ever trod the weedy dale or 

 whinny brake in early spring, and, having heard the 

 mellow voice of this musician of the grove, was not 

 struck with delight, and enchanted at the peculiar 

 richness and softness of his tones ? For my own part, 

 I must say that of all the birds which adorn and en- 

 liven our woods, I love this one the most. There is 

 to me a sweetness in his song which few if any of the 

 other song-birds possess. Besides, he is one of the 

 first to hail with his hymn of praise the young and 

 opening year. 



" Next to the Mavis the Lark or the Laverock is 

 the bird for me, and has been since I first learned to 

 love the little warblers of the woods and fields. How 

 oft, oh ! how oft, has the lark's dewy couch been my 

 bed, and its canopy, the high azure vault, been my 

 only covering, while overtaken by night during my 

 wanderings after nature ; and oh ! how sweet such 

 nights are, and how short they seem, soothed as 



