32 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



on the same bough, as he pours forth his delightful 

 melody ; and day after day, if undisturbed, he may be 

 seen and heard in the same place. His familiar song is 

 said to combine in a greater degree than that of any 

 other British bird the three great requisites of power, 

 variety, and quality of tone. I must confess, however, 

 that, for my own part, I prefer the Blackbird's simpler, 

 but yet, I think, more eloquent and heart-touching 

 strain. 



Mr. Hudson says : "As a rule, when the Song Thrush 

 has produced a beautiful note, he will repeat it twice or 

 thrice. On this account Browning has called him * a 

 wise bird,' because he can 



' recapture 

 The first fine careless rapture.'" 



Many of the utterances of the Song Thrush strongly 

 resemble articulate words and phrases. Macgillivray 

 thus renders the song: 



" Dear, dear, dear ! 



Is the rocky glen, 



Far away, far away, far away, 



From the haunts of men. 



Here shall we dwell in love, 



With the lark and the dove, 



Cuckoo and land-rail ; 



Feast on the banded snail, 

 Worm and gilded fly, 



Drink of the crystal rill, 



Winding adown the hill, 

 Never to dry. 



With glee, with glee, with glee, 

 Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up ; here 

 Nothing to harm us ; then sing merrily, 

 Sing to the loved one, whose nest is near. 



