MAY MUSES 115 



honour and love do not go hand in hand, come and 

 hear what a victory has been won by this bird in a 

 contest of love, devotion, and music, waged through 

 the long history of the woodland world. And you, 

 saddest of all, parents who love not your offspring, 

 come, and be shamed by a little bird. It has been 

 stated by a good observer that the nightingale 

 follows and with snapping beak menaces people 

 intruding on the vicinity of his nest ; certain it is 

 that on such an occasion he frequently utters his 

 alarm-note. When the fledglings are hungry he 

 does not sing ; when they are in peril he utters 

 harsh, loud croaks ; the singer has forgotten his 

 song ; the lover his passion ; but here is a devoted 

 parent. So great are the kindly instincts of the 

 bird that in a cage he will even adopt the young of 

 another species. 



Listening to the bird, we forgot that the early 

 hours of morning were passing swiftly ; nor did we 

 notice the serried row of cattle come to inspect us, 

 and standing like spectres in the dusk. Something 

 else broke the spell. Across the ground from near 

 bushes a strange, dog-like greyish creature came 

 stealthily. Startled, more timid than the bird, I 



