THE LARK IN AUTUMN. 



primitive winged fauna in the days before 

 the sense of song was developed. South 

 American species, belonging to the same 

 great group of perchers as our own sweetest 

 songsters the nightingale, the thrush, the 

 skylark, the linnet are not only voiceless, 

 but do not even possess the necessary 

 organs for producing song. European and 

 Asiatic birds, in other words, acquired their 

 singing habits at a later period than the one 

 at which their ancestors parted company for 

 good with their South American relatives. 

 Indeed, it is pleasant for the evolutionist to 

 think that the whole course of the world's 

 evolution has been in one constant stream 

 towards beauty and sweetness towards 

 lovelier plumage, daintier spots and dap- 

 plings, more graceful antlers, more waving 

 crests, diviner song, intenser colour and 

 scent of flowers. The subtlest perfumes 

 belong to the newest types and families of 

 blossom ; the mellowest notes belong to the 

 newest types and families of birds ; the 

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