6 



summer wind. Here on the hill- side lay thee down on this grassy 

 bank, beside the block of gneiss that in some convulsion of primeval 

 times has been hurled unbroken from the fissured crag above. On 

 the slope beneath are small winding plots of corn, with intervals of 

 pasture and tufts of the Yellow Iris. The coast is here formed of 

 shelving crags and jutting promontories, there stretches along in a 

 winding beach of white sand, on which the wavelets rush with 

 gentle murmur. Flocks of Mergansers and dusky Cormorants are 

 fishing in the Bay ; the white Gannets are flying in strings towards 

 the ocean ; the Rock Doves glide past on whistling pinions, and 

 the joyous Starlings bound towards their rocky homes. Hark to 

 the cry of the Corn-Crake, softened by distance, now seeming to 

 come from afar, now louder, as if borne toward you by the breeze. 

 It has ceased, but the Cuckoo calls to his mate from the cairn on 

 the hill. Again all is silent. The streaks in the channel show 

 that the tide is ebbing ; a thin white vapour is spread over the 

 distant islands ; and beyond them the spirit wings its flight over 

 the broad surface of the ocean, to where the air and the waters 

 blend on the western horizon. But it is recalled by the clear, 

 loud notes of that speckled warbler, that in the softened sunshine 

 pours forth his wild melodies on the gladdened ear. Listen, and 

 think how should you describe the strain so as to impress its 

 characters on the mind of o-ne who never heard it. Perhaps you 

 might say that it consists of a succession of notes, greatly diversified, 

 repeated at short intervals with variations, and protracted for a 

 long time ; that it is loud, clear, and mellow, generally sprightly, 

 but at times tender and melting. You might add that two birds 

 at a distance from each other often respond, the one commencing 

 its song when the other has ceased ; and that sometimes several 

 may be heard at once, filling a whole glen with their warblings. 

 Listen again, and say what does it resemble ? 



Dear, dear, dear, ^ 



In the rocky glen. 

 Far away, far away, far away, 



The "haunts of men, 

 There shall we dwell in love 

 With the lark and the dove, 

 Cuckoo and corn rail ; 

 Feast on the banded snail, 



Worm, and gilded fly ; 

 Drink of the crystal rill. 

 Winding adown the hill, 



Never to dry. 

 With glee, with glee, with glee, 



Clieer up, cheer up, cheer up; here 

 Nothing to harm us ; then sing merrily, 



Sing to the loved one whose nest is near. 

 Qui, qui, qui, kween, gulp, 

 Tiurra, tiurra, chipiwi. 

 Too-tee, too-tee, chiu, choc, 

 Chirri, chirri, chooee, 

 Quiu, qui, qui. 



"No more, pray; the Thrush's song is indescribable and inimitable. 

 It is heard at all seasons in fine weather, but especially in spring 



