ROADSIDE SINGERS 83 



sayings. Tired-out birds must rest for a time, 

 and they do, when they can go no farther. 



The nightingale is not sociable that is, it 

 does not mix with other birds of its kind ; 

 you will see it alone, as a rule, excepting when 

 the young are out of the nest. Then the 

 parents and their brood may be seen in 

 company. 



It is local, too, in its habitat, even in those 

 districts that are favoured by it. A certain 

 amount of warmth and moisture is necessary 

 for its well-being. A copse-bank close to a 

 hollow, under some hill with a southern aspect, 

 suits him well : never a nightingale yet was 

 heard to sing on, or we ought to have said 

 over, sour ground. The full meaning of the 

 term sour ground I cannot well explain in 

 writing ; but there are certain stretches of land 

 where nothing will prosper, not even so-called 

 vermin, and that is saying a great deal. 

 And this unkind state of things extends even 

 to the pools of water. Carp will live nearly 

 anywhere but in these pools which are here 

 and there ; in the sour district they are dwarfed, 

 having heads like cod-fish. 



You may hear our bird pouring his music 

 out as you jog along the road ; for he sings in 



