SONGS OF BIRDS. 45 



low but perpendicular cliffs of red conglomerate, often 

 underworn and sometimes insular, jutting out in bold 

 headlands, — are characteristic of the shore hereabout, 

 till we arrive at Paignton ; a variety of coast which 

 cannot but be productive to the littoral naturalist, 

 especially as the receding tide lays bare an ample area 

 of low sandstone, hollowed into thousands of tide- 

 pools. 



My fellow passenger was a legal gentleman from 

 town, revisiting Brixham after an absence of twenty 

 years, intelligent and facetious ; Coacheywas commu- 

 nicative and confidential ; and by and by, as the sun 

 came out, and we turned off into the sheltered road 

 from Paignton onward, under the lee of high hedges, 

 we began to find it not so dreary after all. 



The songs of birds came from the groves, mellow 

 and cheery, though spring had not yet thought of 

 beginning to deck with leaves their naked bowers. 

 How delightful is the voice of a sinking bird ! how it 

 soothes the mind, and fills it with pleasant emotions ! 



'Tis sweet in solitude to hear 

 The earliest music of the year, 



The Blackbird's loud wild note ; 

 Or, from the wintry thicket drear. 



The Thrush's stamm'ring throat. 



In rustic solitude 'tis sweet 



The earliest flowers of spring to greet, — 



The violet fi-om its tomb. 

 The strawberry, creeping at our feet, 



The sorrel's simple bloom. 



MOXTGOMERT. 



The ruined castle of Berry, standing about three 



