The Return of Song 223 



to challenge the keener touch of autumn in the air 

 that is often perceptible at the very beginning of 

 the month, when the nights have already been 

 gaining for five weeks upon the day. By the time 

 that the human world is astir, strong summer 

 seems to reign unmenaced over the land ; but the 

 voice of the robin in the dawn has marked for the 

 senses that heard it a new moment in the revolving 

 year. Deep in the heart of summer, the seeds of 

 autumn are already maturing change ; and we 

 learn from such phases of nature to see how no 

 stage of life is stable and complete, but how each 

 conceals, a little below the surface, the preparation 

 for its own eclipse. 



It is generally in the last fortnight of September 

 that the opening notes may be heard of the most 

 persistent of the autumn and winter singers. The 

 voice of the song-thrush is first heard fairly freely 

 in the south of England about the middle of 

 October. From that time onward it may be heard 

 singing in mild weather with little less than its 

 full spring vigour, until in February it fully wel- 

 comes the birth of the new season, which it has 

 indomitably foretold. In September it regains its 

 song, not with the immediate fullness of the robin, 

 but in low and halting notes, which have often 

 only elements of resemblance to the freedom and 

 sweetness of its perfect music. The song- thrush 

 seems to need the yellowing of the elms to mature 

 its notes, just as the sight of the cocked hay in 

 the meadows is believed by country people to crack 

 the voice of the cuckoo. While the September 



