8 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



rejoiced in the summer breeze. Every sedge bed seemed 

 full of lowly life, whilst overhead the emblem of death 

 ever and anon was floating in the shape of a large Marsh 

 Harrier, looking for his prey. The third was when, 

 with that same beloved companion, I heard at the 

 Hague the Icterine Warbler sing from the lofty trees, 

 whilst the Great Reed Warbler answered from below 

 with a strain hardly inferior to that of the great musician 

 aloft. All these are sweet and tender memories of times 

 and seasons that cannot come again. 



Very many estimates have been made of the com- 

 parative merits of our native songsters. My favourite is 

 the Blackbird, and next to him I would place the 

 Linnet ; others prefer the Song Thrush or the Skylark. 

 The pretty Goldfinch charms many hearts with his 

 lovely plumage and his sprightly song, whilst the Robin 

 is certainly our most plaintive and, at the same time, 

 most varied singer. It is a real pleasure to hear the 

 lively, twittering Swallow ; and the artless songs of the 

 Willow Warbler and the unobtrusive Hedge Sparrow 

 are charged with many affecting memories for me. 



The close observer will note many variations in the 

 songs of birds of the same species ; some are much 

 superior to their brethren. Sometimes we hear great 

 performers, especially amongst the Song Thrushes ; 

 and year after year we can see that the Blackbird, as he 

 grows older, is making improvements in his song. I can 

 often detect reminiscences of the Whitethroat's warning 

 cry in the Skylark's song, and the Sedge Warbler's is a 

 rechauffe of the performances of many of his neighbours. 

 The plaintive notes of the Woodpigeon have been sup- 

 posed to have a resemblance to the words, " Take two 



