NIGHTINGALE ROAD 



the nightingales, come out upon the sward by the 

 wayside. Nightingale Copse is also a great fa- 

 vourite with cuckoos. There are a few oaks in 

 it, and in the meadows in the rear many detached 

 hawthorn bushes, and two or three small groups 

 of trees, chestnuts, lime, and elm. From the 

 hawthorns to the elms, and from the elms to the 

 oaks, the cuckoos continually circulate, calling as 

 they fly. 



One morning in May, while resting on a rail in 

 the copse, I heard four calling close by, the fur- 

 thest not a hundred yards distant, and as they 

 continually changed their positions flying round 

 there was always one in sight. They circled 

 round singing ; the instant one ceased another took 

 it up, a perfect madrigal. In the evening, at eight 

 o'clock, I found them there again still singing. 

 The same detached groups of trees are much 

 frequented by wood-pigeons, especially towards 

 autumn. 



Rooks prefer to perch on the highest branches, 

 wood-pigeons more in the body of the tree, and 

 when the boughs are bare of leaves a flock of the 

 latter may be recognised in this way as far as the 

 eye can see, and when the difference of colour is 

 rendered imperceptible by distance. The wood- 

 pigeon when perched has a rounded appearance ; 

 the rook a longer and sharper outline. .-,, 



4 49 



