14 



MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



" I love you, I love you," 



Thus thou dost sing, 

 " Come again, come again, 



Beautiful Spring." 



Hark ! to the singing Thrush 



On the bare bough, 

 Voicing its lilting strain 



In England now. 

 Song-bird of hill and dale, 



I make my vow, 

 I love you best of all 



In England now. 



FIG. 6. SONG THRUSH. 



I have long since come to recognise a close association between 

 Poetry and Nature. We need a greater measure of poetry in 

 our national life. The song of the Thrush is full of poetry. Long 

 before we ourselves have sufficient courage to realise that Spring 

 is well under weigh, this large-hearted songster puts his thoughts 

 into clear warblings of hope. Birds never lose faith in the Spring 

 that is to be, and, as James Douglas says : " The Thrush is the 

 poet who can transform his diet of worms into golden melody." 

 His is the super-song among those uttered by our resident birds 

 early in the year, for it is full of optimism at a time when we 

 humans are doubtful of the glad days to come. 



