14 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



Quite early in June I began to feel just a little cross 

 with the nightingales, for they almost ceased singing ; 

 and considering that the spring had been a backward 

 one it seemed to me that their silence was coming 

 too soon* I was not sufficiently regardful of the fact 

 that their lays are solitary, as the poet has said, that 

 they ask for no witness of their song, nor thirst for 

 human praise* They were all nesting now. But if I 

 heard them less, I saw much more of them, especially 

 of one individual, the male bird of a couple that had 

 made their nest in a hedge a stone's throw from the 

 cottage, A favourite morning perch of this bird was 

 on a small wooden gate four or five yards away from 

 my window. It was an open, sunny spot, where 

 his restless, bright eyes could sweep the lane, up 

 and down ; and he could there also give vent to 

 his superfluous energy by lording it over a few 

 sparrows and other small birds that visited the spot. 

 I greatly admired the fine alert figure of the pug- 

 nacious little creature as he perched there so close 

 to me, and so fearless. His striking resemblance to 

 the robin in form, size, and in his motions, made 

 his extreme familiarity seem only natural. The 

 robin is greatly distinguished in a sober-plumaged 

 company by the vivid tint on his breast. He is like 

 the autumn leaf that catches a ray of sunlight on 

 its surface, and shines conspicuously among russet 

 leaves. But the clear brown of the nightingale is 

 beautiful too. 



