252 THE STORMCOCK. 



at every point, I sometimes peevishly ask myself, 

 Why should nature have made a provision in the 

 male blackbird, in order that he may soothe his 

 incubating female, and have denied that provision 

 to my favourite, the carrion crow? And then I 

 answer my own question, by whispering to myself, 

 that the she carrion may possibly experience won- 

 derful delight in listening to the hoarse croaking of 

 her partner ; just as the old Scotchwoman did, when 

 she used to gaze at the carbuncle on her husband's 

 nose. In a word, I know nothing, absolutely nothing, 

 about the song in birds. The raven will whistle 

 you a tune so true and pleasing that you feel quite 

 enchanted with his performance; whilst his congener, 

 the carrion crow, notwithstanding all your pains to 

 instruct him, will remain as unmusical as Paddy's 

 fiddle, which was dumb for want of catgut. We 

 listen with delight to the many species of male birds 

 which make the groves resound with their melody ; 

 and we cannot imagine why the females so seldom 

 venture an attempt at song ; for we know that with 

 us both ladies and gentlemen are full of fine sounds. 

 Wherever a Braham is heard, there is sure to be a 

 Billington not far off. 



However, should it be the case, in ornithology, 

 that Nature has ordered the male to sing his female 

 to repose, there are some exceptions to the supposed 

 general rule. I may adduce the stormcock by way 

 of example ; for he warbles nearly the year through- 

 out. I have often heard him pour forth his wild 

 and plaintive notes in the months of August, October, 

 November, and December, and in every following 



