BIRD LIFE, ETC. 155 



10. SCENE ON AN APRIL DAY. 



It is a lovely April day. All over the pale blue 

 sky are scattered fleecy tufts of white vapour, buds of 

 beauty are bursting from the earth, and the distant 

 waterfall fills the valley with its soothing murmur. How 

 delightful the scenery of these wild hills, where from 

 the rift of the lichen-crusted crag juts out the rowan, 

 whose elegantly pinnated foliage is fast unfolding ; 

 where, scattered along the broken steep, are seen the 

 white-stemmed birches, with their drooping twigs and 

 glistening leaflets ; while the hillocks are crowned with 

 blossomed furze ; and the smooth waters of the 

 deep lake send back the wooded banks and the 

 heath-clad heights ! 



High overhead wheels in wanton mazes the joyous 

 snipe, piping its singular song, and anon drumming on 

 tremulous wing, as it shoots aslant. The shrill scream 

 of the curlew is responded to by the wail of the lap- 

 wing and the melancholy whistle of the golden plover. 

 Already have these birds desposited their eggs on the 

 moor, in which they have scraped a slight hollow for 

 the purpose of receiving them. Should you come upon 

 one of their nests, you will admire the arrangement of 

 its four pear-shaped and spotted eggs, the narrow ends 

 of which meet in the centre. Among the tufts of furze 

 and sloe hops the lively ring ouzel, newly arrived from 

 the warmer region in which it has passed the winter ; 

 and by the pebbly margin of the pool flits the delicate 



