1 60 Summer Studies of Birds and Books CHAP. 



of the bird. But, apart from such associations, I 

 should unhesitatingly endorse the general verdict of 

 mankind, and place the Nightingale at the head of 

 all songsters. There are, indeed, Nightingales and 

 Nightingales ; but when I listen, whether by day or 

 night, to a grand singer in the height of his powers, 

 with his heart full and his health perfect, I feel a 

 sense of wonder, nay of awe, with which no other 

 bird inspires me. That long sweet crescendo, unique 

 among all birds, that liquid trill of marvellous sweet- 

 ness, that swift and sudden cadence, followed by a 

 long mysterious pause what a mind, what a love of 

 art one might almost say, must a creature have who 

 can invent and delight in such sounds, such startling 

 effects as these ! The Eobin is one of our most 

 beautiful singers, and in point of variety I doubt if 

 any bird can rival him ; but when- I once heard a 

 Eobin try his song in a tree above a thicket where 

 a Nightingale was singing, his whole tone paled 

 before the fire and intensity of the master, and 

 he seemed to recognise it himself, for he almost 

 immediately departed. 



Next to the Nightingale many would place the 

 Blackcap ; and the music of his song, if he is at 

 his best, is wonderfully sweet and pure, though he 

 never gets beyond one simple form of strain. But 

 in splendour at least of performance, I am inclined to 

 place the Skylark second. Fully to appreciate the 



