THE SONG THRUSH. 



37 



panied by their frolicsome lambkins, are quietly browsing on the hill ; when the broad-winged Eagle 

 is seen skimming along the mountain-ridge, as he wends his way towards his eyry on the far 

 promontory ; when no sound comes on the ear save, at intervals, the faint murmur of the waves 

 rushing into the caverns and rising against the faces of the cliffs ; when the western breeze stealing 

 over the flowery pastures carries with it the perfume of the wild thyme and white clover, the song 

 of the Thrush is poured forth from the summit of some granite block, shaggy with grey lichens, and 

 returns in softer and sweeter modulations from the sides of the heathy mountains. There may be 

 wilder, loudei 1 , and more marvellous songs, and the Mocking-bird may be singing the requiem of the 

 lied Indian of the Ohio, or cheering the heart of his ruthless oppressor, the white man of many 

 inventions ; but to me it is all-sufficient, for it enters into the soul, melts the heart into tenderness, 

 diffuses a holy calm, and connects the peace of earth with the transcendent happiness of heaven. In 

 other places the song of the Thrush may be lively and cheering ; here, in the ocean-girt solitude, it is 

 gentle and soothing. By its magic influence it smoothes the ruffled surface of the sea of human feelings, 

 as it floats over it at intervals with its varied swells and cadences, like the perfumed wavelets of the 

 summer wind. Here on the hill-side lay thee down on this grassy bank, beside the block of gneiss 

 that in some convulsion of primeval times has been hurled unbroken from the fissured crag above. On 

 the slope beneath are small winding plots of corn, with intervals of pasture, and tufts of the yellow 

 iris. The coast is here formed of shelving crags and jutting promontories, there stretches along in a 

 winding beach of white sand, on which the wavelets rush with gentle murmur. Flocks of Mergansers 

 and dusky Cormorants are fishing in the bay ; the white Gannets are flying in strings towards the 

 ocean ; the Rock Doves glide past on whistling pinions, and the joyous Starlings bound towards their 

 rocky homes. Hark to the cry of the Corncrake, softened by distance, now seeming to come from 

 afar, now louder, as if borne toward you by the breeze. It has ceased, but the Cuckoo calls to his 

 mate from the cairn on the hill. Again all is silent. The streaks in the channel show that the tide is 

 ebbing ; a thin white vapour is spread over the distant islands ; and beyond them the spirit wings its 

 flight over the broad surface of the ocean, to where the air and the waters blend on the western 

 horizon. But it is recalled by the clear, loud notes of that speckled warbler, that in the softened sun- 

 shine pours forth his wild melodies on the gladdened ear. Listen, and think how should you describe 

 the strain so as to impress its charactei-s on the mind of one who never heard it. Perhaps you might 

 say that it consists of a succession of notes, greatly diversified, repeated at short intervals with varia- 

 tions, and protracted for a long time ; that it is loud, clear, and mellow, generally sprightly, but at 

 times tender and melting. You might add that two birds at a distance from each other often respond, 

 the one commencing its song when the other has ceased ; and that sometimes several may be heard at 

 once, filling a whole glen with their warblings. Listen again, and say what does it resemble 1 ? 



"Dear, dear, dear, 



In the rocky glen ; 

 Far away, far away, far away 



The haunts of men. 

 There shall we dwell in love 

 With the lark and the dove, 

 Cuckoo and corn rail ; 

 Feast on the banded snail, 



Worm and gilded fly ; 

 Drink of the crystal rill, 

 Winding adown the hill, 



Never to dry. 



With glee, with glee, with glee, 



Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up ; here 

 Nothing to harm us ; then sing merrily, 



Sing to the loved one whose nest is near, 

 Qui, qui, qui, kween, quip, 

 Tiurru, tiurru, chipiwi, 

 Too-tee, too-tee, chiu choo, 

 Chirri, chirri, chooee, 

 Quiu, qui, qui. 



" 2STo more, pray : the Thrush's song is inimitable and indescribable. It is heard at all seasons h-, 

 fine weather, but especially in spring and summer, particularly in the early morning and about sunset. 

 But it is not in sunshine only that this gentle songster warbles its wild notes ; for often in the midst 

 of the thick rain it takes its stand in some sheltered spot, under the cover of a projecting crag or 

 stone, and for hours perhaps amuses itself with repeating its never-tiring modulations. The Song 

 Thrush, which is a resident species, is distributed over all parts of Scotland and England. In summer 

 it prefers the woods and hill-sides, the bushy banks of streams, and sheltered places at some distance 

 from human habitations, although in cultivated districts it often nestles in the orchards, gardens and 

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