146 IMPRESSIONS OF SOME ENGLISH BIRDS. 



and each one so persistent and vociferous, accounts 

 for their part in the choir. The song is as loud as 

 that of our orchard starling, and is even more ani- 

 mated. It begins with a rapid, wren-like trill, which 

 quickly becomes a sharp jingle, then slides into a 

 warble, and ends with an abrupt flourish. I have 

 never heard a song that began so liltingly end with 

 such a quick, abrupt emphasis. The last note often 

 sounds like " whittier," uttered with great sharpness ; 

 but one that used to sing in an apple-tree over my 

 head, day after day there by the Doon, finished its 

 strain each time with the sharp ejaculation, " Sister, 

 right here.'* Afterwards, whenever I met a shilfa, I 

 could hear in its concluding note this pointed and al- 

 most impatient exclamation of " Sister, right here." 

 The song, on the whole, is a pleasing one, and very 

 characteristic ; so rapid, incessant, and loud. The 

 bird seemed to be held in much less esteem in Britain 

 than on the Continent, where it is much sought after 

 as a caged bird. In Germany, in the forest of Thu- 

 ringia, the bird is in such quest that scarcely can one 

 be heard. A common workman has been known to 

 give his cow for a favorite songster. The chaffinch 

 has far less melody and charm of song than some of 

 our finches, notably our purple finch ; but it is so 

 abundant and so persistent in song that in quantity 

 of music it far excels any singer we have. 



Next to the chaffinch in the volume of its song, 

 and perhaps in some localities surpassing it, is the 

 song-thrush. I did not find this bird upon the Doon, 



