202 OUR NATR'E SONGSTERS. 



the copses or borders of the larger wood. This 

 brisk little bird flits along with great quickness, 

 snapping, on its way through the air, at the insect 

 hovering there, and seldom failing in securing its 

 victim. Then, too, the elegant and bright creature 

 hops along the ground with the greatest gaiety, 

 vibrating its reddish tail continually; or sometimes 

 it sits aloft on some tree, singing its soft sweet 

 song, ever accompanying it with this vibrator}' 

 movement, whether it utters it from tlie bough, or 

 in its flittings through the air from one low tree 

 to another. It seems very fond of ivied ruins, and 

 as its song sounds in these romantic places, it 

 reminds us of "Wilson's words : — 



" I could na* see the bonnie bird, 



She cower'd sae close upon her nest ; 

 But that saft it her sang I heard, 



That luUM her and her brood to rest. 



" Sweet through the silent dawning rung 

 The pleasure of that lovely sang; 

 And the auld tower again look'd young, 

 That psalm sae sweetly stole alang," 



Tliis song, which is sung from morning till 

 night, has been heard as early as three o'clock in 

 the morning, when it had not ceased on the pre- 

 ceding evening before ten. Like most sweet 



