THROUGH THE YEAR 105 



builder he surpasses the swallow ; and in the sleepy 

 streets of old English villages the black and white 

 of the martins shooting to and fro between the 

 eaves, their beautiful dip and curve, and their 

 pleasant note, are charming. 



The house martin has another feature entirely 

 delightful. He sings much as the swallow sings ; I do 

 not know that I can distinguish between the two 

 songs, for only lately have I listened to the music 

 of the martin. He sings in a low sweet key, and the 

 notes are packed close and quick together like the 

 swallow's notes. He sings even whilst sitting in 

 his nest in August with his mate. I have seen a 

 bird by itself the male blackcap singing as he 

 wanned the eggs, but I never before saw or heard of 

 the male bird of any species singing whilst he sat 

 in the nest with his mate. 



GREEN LINNETS 



Wordsworth found the green linnet " presiding 

 genius " among the snow-white blossoms of the 

 orchard or garden in May. I have always found 

 him the presiding genius of birds in the August 

 garden. But there our differences about the green 

 linnet end. I agree with all else Wordsworth 

 said in his lovely lyric. The green linnet is " a life, 

 a presence in the air," a " brother of the dancing 

 leaves," and he " pours forth his song in gushes." 

 The green linnet or greenfinch has been undervalued 

 by people who care for and write of birds. He is 

 slighted. One of us has criticised his figure, another 



