234 PROTECTION OF ANIMAL LIFE 



ear, or their confidence his heart, he has extended to them 

 a protection more sympathetic and more potent than that of 

 the law. Poets without number have sung their praises, and 

 even the schoolboy stays his harrying hand with ancient lilts 

 born of long-time appreciation. 



It is little wonder that in England the Nightingale, 

 "night's sweet bird," should have claimed the reverence of 

 men when even 



Highest oakes stoop downe to heare, 

 And list'ning elders prick the eare. 



And to a less extent the songsters in our northern land, 

 ^especially the Blackbird and Thrush Merle and Mavis 

 despite their peccadillos in the orchard, have gained a 

 patronage which their glad music well merits. 



What is one to say of the favour in which the "foolish 

 Cuckoo" is held ? It has no wonderful song to sing, its habits 

 are unattractive, yet its "plaintive roundelay," its "two old 

 notes," awaken a sympathetic thrill as every spring comes 

 round. Perhaps Montgomery was right, 



Why art thou always welcome, lonely bird ? 



The heart grows young again when I am heard ; 



Nor in my double note the music lies, 



But in the fields and woods, the streams and skies. 



As little claim upon our regard has the Turtle Dove as 

 a songster, yet there can be no doubt of the favour in which 

 poets have held the "plaintive moan," which with generous 

 interpretation they have regarded as symbolic of tenderness 

 and peace, of constancy and truth. To what extent the "too 

 saint-like turtle" has been protected by the praises of the 

 poets, which, as a rule, echo the feelings of the people, it is 

 difficult to say; but there can be no doubt of the efficiency 

 of the protection which has shielded the Robin, on account 

 of the affection in which it has been held through many ages 

 and countries. 



Probably the confidence with which man looks upon the 

 Redbreast was in the first place simply a reflex of the 

 confidence with which the Robin treated man. But legend 

 and fairy tale have created a sacred and a sentimental halo 

 round the little bird, and have raised it to a first place in 

 man's esteem. The breadth and depth of this popularity has 

 been indicated by Wordsworth 



