CHAPTER LXII. 



Nest-building Cunningham's Objection to Burns' Song, " O were my Love yon Lilac fair" 

 Birds and the Lilac-Tree Rivalries of Birds Birds and the Poets The Nightingale. 



A FINER February month from first to last was never known in the 

 West Highlands. With an amount of sunshine that April might be 

 glad of, it was mild and open throughout ; the sort of weather, in 

 short, that Thomson must have been dreaming about, when he 

 invoked the season of bursting bud and wildflower as " Gentle 

 Spring, ethereal mildness." March [1878], too, has come in, not 

 lion-like, as the meteorological proverb would have it, but " like a 

 lamb," as it is hoped it may continue and end. Everybody is now 

 astir, and "speed the plough" is the order of the day, as well, 

 indeed, it may, for the bud has already opened into leaf, and prim- 

 roses are plentiful so plentiful that they may be gathered in. 

 handfuls from the hazel copse and woodland glade. As for our 

 wild-bird friends, they are in ecstasies with it all, everywhere in 

 full and fluent song, and making love with an ardour and direct- 

 ness of purpose that rarely fails of its reward. Nest-building, the 

 most important and serious labour of their lives, but a labour 

 of love all the same, is being rapidly proceeded with, the God- 

 taught architects knowing not only to labour, but how best to 

 labour, frequently resting a space to refresh themselves with 

 song : 



' ' Song sweetens toil, however rude the sound, 

 All at her work the village maiden sings ; 

 Nor while she turns the giddy wheel around, 

 Revolves the sad vicissitudes of things." 



