104 THE EARLY DAYS OF 



had to duck my head to avoid — at least so I thought — the bird 

 flying against my face, and on one occasion it actually flew against 

 my line. The paradoxical nature of the Dipper is well worthy 

 the attention of the disciple of Darwin. In gesture and nest it 

 resembles the wren ; in flight, voice, haunts, and colour of its eggs 

 it resembles the kingfisher ; whilst, according to naturalists, its 

 anatomy bears close affinity to that of the thrush. 



" Numerous as are other birds, we miss the nightingale, whose 

 antipathy to Wales forms one of the most curious features in 

 the migration of birds. Considering the unrivaUed song of the 

 nightingale, it is curious how often the notes of other birds arc 

 mistaken for it. Last May, whilst in Palestine — remembering the 

 lines in * Lalla Rookh,' 



' And Jordan, those sweet banks of thine, 

 And woods so full of nightingales ' — 



I listened attentively on the banks of the Jordan, but heard nothing 

 which might lead me to suppose that Philomel was there. My 

 dragoman assured me, however, that nightingales were common ; 

 but, considering that he pointed out the scavanger vultures as 

 eagles, I did not attach much weight to his testimony. 



"In Dr. Johnson's 'Life of Savage,' mention is made of a scheme 

 proposed for the happy and independent subsistence of the impro- 

 vident poet, namely, that he should retire into Wales and receive 

 an allowance of £50 a year — to be raised by subscription — on which 

 he was to live privately in a cheap place, without aspiring any more 

 to affluence, or having any further care of reputation. This scheme 

 appears to have met with the warm approval of the poet, and 

 ' when he was once gently reproached by a friend for submitting 

 to live on a subscription, and advised rather, by a resolute exertion 

 of his abilities to support himself, he could not bear to debar himself 

 from the happiness which was to be found in the calm of a cottage, 

 or lose the opportunity of listening without intermission to the 

 melody of the nightingale, which he believed was to be heard from 



