SONGS. 267 



tries, is proved by the same thing occurring- in the 

 north. In notes of observations made at Mussel- 

 burgh in 1818, we find the following: " On the 26th 

 October, heard a thrush in the morning singing in an 

 orchard in as sprightly a manner as if it had been in 

 April; and again in the evening of the same day, 

 heard another thrush singing on the banks of the 

 Esk at some miles distant from the orchard." " On 

 the 8th December observed a wren singing in the 

 same orchard at day-break, and it was answered by a 

 hedge-sparrow" (Accentor modular is). While writing 

 this paragraph (Jan. 18, 1832) a song-thrush is 

 singing in a hedge opposite our window as finely as 

 if it were May*. 



" We have one little bird," says Mr. Knapp, "the 

 woodlark (Alauda arbor ea), that in the early parts 

 of the autumnal months delights us with its harmony; 

 and its carols may be heard in the air commonly 

 during the calm sunny mornings of this season. 

 They have a softness and quietness perfectly in uni- 

 son with the sober, almost melancholy, stillness of 

 the hour. The skylark also sings now, and its song 

 is very sweet, full of harmony, cheerful as the blue 

 sky and gladdening beam in which it circles and 

 sports, and known and admired by all ; but the voice 

 of the woodlark is local, not so generally heard from 

 its softness, must almost be listened for, to be distin- 

 guished, and has not any pretensions to the hilarity 

 of the former. This little bird sings likewise in the 

 spring t." 



In addition, we have not a doubt that all our little 

 summer visitants, from the whitethroat to the night- 

 ingale, continue in song during the winter in the 

 countries to which they migrate. M. Savigny, 

 who observed the whitethroat in Egypt J, mentions 



* J. R. t Journ. of a Naturalist, p. 265, 3rd edit. 



} Grand Ouvrage sur 1'Egypt, Part Zool. p. 27f. 



