124 COUNTRY IbIRD RHYMES 



II. — Scots. 



Wheety-why the whitethroat 



Dances when he sings, 

 Ower the brier and bramble, 



Hoverin' on his wings ; 

 Haud his tongue he canna, 



Singin' is his flam ; 

 A' the country laddies 



Ga' him Bletherin' Tam. 



Merry water wagtails, 



A' the bairnies know 

 How yer tails' wag-waggin' 



Gars the burnies flow ; 

 And how wicked kelpies 



Tell the frettin' linn 

 If ye stop the waggin' 



Burnies winna rin. 



Cheerily 'maiig ice and snaw 

 Sings the bobbin' water-craw; 

 Feeble though his sang may be, 

 There's a charm for you and me. 



COHNCIIAKE. 



When the corncrake from the plain 



Pipes his glad return again. 



All rejoice again to hear 



Summer's faithful pioneer. 



When he first begins his crek 



Grassblades jimply hide his back ; 



When the corn is lushy-green 



He disports at will unseen ; 



When the fields with grain are bright 



He proclaims it day and night ; 



