84 MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



not in any way compare with the Song Thrush, in so far as the 

 variety of his notes is concerned, indeed the song has little varia- 

 tion, and is often abruptly ended. What there is of it, however, 

 is of the first water, rich mellow notes, tinged with plaintive 

 sadness, striking the ear restfully at a time of day when Nature 

 is preparing for respite, and we ourselves are feeling the need of 

 some soothing influence, such as only the Blackbird's song can 

 bring. 



There are several other song birds which deserve mention, and 

 it would ill become me, a passionate devotee of bird study, to 

 overlook a single one, but most at all events of my more favoured 

 singers have been mentioned, and I am almost at the end of the 

 space allotted for this link in my story. 



There is, however, one bird I must refer to in conclusion, 

 which, although hardly a song bird, is deserving of mention. I 

 refer to the Grasshopper Warbler. Its curious electric notes, 

 which fill the air with their vibrations of sound, should be listened 

 to, for preference, when Nature is hushed, and nought but the 

 hoot of a passing Owl, or the minstrelsy of the Nightingale, are 

 to be heard. It sings both early and late, and I have watched 

 this bird singing early in the morning when the grass has been 

 wringing wet with dew. It comes out into the open more readily 

 than the bird books tell you, and may be seen at close quarters 

 if only patience is exercised. 



Morning is the time to hear birds singing at their best. Perhaps 

 we ourselves are more receptive then, but for many years it has 

 been my happy experience to listen to innumerable songsters to 

 the best advantage when the work-a-day world was yet asleep, 

 and the whole universe seemed flooded with bird music. 



