32 THE WARBLERS 



The song of both these birds is infinitely superior to that of the 

 whitethroats, though the same motif runs through each and all alike. 

 Beginning in the melody of the lesser-whitethroat, it becomes more 

 persistent in that of the whitethroat ; taken up by the garden-warbler 

 it is expanded, and the harmonies become subtler, sweeter, and more 

 dignified. One April day, while hidden in order to photograph black- 

 birds, a garden-warbler, unconscious of my proximity, discoursed sweet 

 music to me all day. The song was liquid and rapid, and at times he 

 wove into it many of the blackbird's notes, so that I had to make an 

 extra slit in my tent and satisfy myself continually as to the identity 

 of the songster. There were intervals for light refreshment, when, 

 standing daintily poised, he would seize a caterpillar from some apple 

 blossom and then transform it into music ! Now and again he warbled 

 in a low, crooning voice with beak closed ; just as a young robin does 

 when learning to sing in the autumn. 



But it is in the blackcap that this gift of musical expression 

 reaches its highest pitch. As a singer he is second only to the night- 

 ingale, and there are some who would not make even that exception. 

 But with each of the Sylviinse, individuals vary very much in their 

 gift of song ; so some blackcaps give of their best without stint, and 

 what a ' best ' it is ! Coming from the depths of a tangle of bramble 

 and briar, it would seem as if the beautiful soul of the wild rose had 

 found expression in song. 1 It has been said that " Birds never seem 

 quite to belong to this world," and truly the blackcap might be a stray 

 visitor from the Choir Invisible. 



" And now 'twas like all instruments, 

 Now like a lonely flute ; 

 And now it is an angel's song 

 That makes the heavens be mute." 



Coleridge. 



But birds are no saints after all. See them when possessed with 



1 James Lane Allen. 



