APRIL 107 



none that removes itself more completely in the shortening 

 days. It is a good bird on the table ; but we can afford 

 to take lenient toll of such desirable visitors. 



XXV 



I forget what French writer it was who declared that 

 his dog could do everything except speak, and Bird 

 thanked Heaven that the gift of speech had Language 

 been withheld from his faithful companion, because he 

 knew how terribly the animal would bore him by repeat- 

 ing the same thing over and over again. This saying 

 came to mind not long ago in the solitude of a Highland 

 strath, where I was diligently flogging a salmon pool. A 

 thrush, newly arrived from southerly winter quarters, sat 

 on the topmost spray of a birch, singing vociferously. Its 

 voice was charged with meaning, had one only the key to 

 interpret it withal. Like the unknown tongues of the 

 prophets, it bore a message to those who had ears to 

 hear. Perhaps it is well for us that our ears are so con- 

 structed that we understand only the general meaning of 

 bird- voices call-notes, alarm, love-making, and so forth. 

 Infallibly we should be bored by iteration of the same 

 sentiment, especially at this season of universal courtship. 



Nevertheless, so invincible is our curiosity, that even 

 serious ornithologists have spent much time in trying to 

 elucidate the meaning of bird-song, and have attempted, 

 all rather clumsily, to render the song of the thrush in 

 human vocables. MacGillivray's endeavour was very 



elaborate 



' Dear, dear, dear, 

 In the rocky glen, 

 Far away, far away, far away 

 The haunts of men ; 



