ROADSIDE SINGERS 91 



account in some measure for these variations. 

 But there is no infallible rule or reason to go 

 by, for that large plover, the stone-curlew, a 

 southern migrant certainly, has been shot to 

 my knowledge in most severe weather. This 

 bird was not injured in any way, and when it 

 fell to the shot I had it. 



The garden-warbler, a bird about the size of 

 the whitethroat, but quite distinct from it, loves 

 dearly to babble out his song close to the high- 

 road. A low stone wall to divide the garden 

 from the road, and one or two thick shrubs and 

 bushes, are quite enough for him in fact, all 

 that he requires ; and in one or other of them 

 he will sit and sing to his mate from morning 

 to night. If there is plenty of traffic on the 

 road, all the better ; the tramp of foot-passen- 

 gers and the roll of wheels appear to excite 

 him to fresh exertions, and he can hardly get it 

 all out fast enough. 



Other singers and warblers, belonging more 

 or less to the same family, we might mention ; 

 but my purpose in this article has only been 

 to direct attention, before fresh improvements 

 cause them to flit far away, to these three 

 famous roadside singers the nightingale, the 

 blackcap, and the garden warbler. 



