2 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



Very forcible and very admirable are the words of 

 (Charles Kifigsk?y on this point, in his Lecture on the 

 Study of Natural History, delivered to the officers of the 

 Kcr/U;AftIHery; Woplwich : "A laboratory for chemical 

 experiments is a good thing as far as it goes ; but I 

 would much prefer to the laboratory a Naturalists' Field 

 Club, certain that the boys would get more of sound 

 inductive habits of mind, as well as more health, man- 

 liness, and cheerfulness, amid scenes to remember which 

 will be a joy for ever, than they ever can by bending 

 over retorts and crucibles amid smells even to remember 

 which is a pain for ever." 



In another of his works the same most interesting 

 writer suggests the following questions with regard to 

 every stone, plant, or bird we may meet : " What's your 

 name ? " " How do you come to be where I find you ?" 

 " By what means ? " " From where ? " " Now you are 

 here, how do you manage to live, if this is not your 

 original abode ? " And so on. 



Questions such as these will furnish profitable and 

 delightful occupation for many an idle hour, whilst all 

 the time the questioner is learning invaluable lessons of 

 observation, and reflection, and industry, and patience. 



It has been well said that the world of fishes is a world 

 of silence ; but that the world of birds is the world of 

 light and song. In the morning they hail the rising 

 sun ; in the evening the Heathcock stands on tiptoe on 

 the branch of the highest willow to catch the last sight 

 of him, as he sinks into his western grave. 



Of all living things birds alone possess voices musical 

 in themselves, and most agreeable to man ; they enliven 

 our woods and groves, as well as the mountain side and 



