1 908-1909.] Bird-Life in Early Scottish Literature. 145 



then great morasses. The country also was thinly populated, 

 and the conditions being different, bird -life might also be 

 different. This and other lists seem to me conclusive on 

 the subject, — that there was a time when the crane was a 

 regular visitor to our shores, and was captured and prized a& 

 a table bird. 



In the old poem, " Welcum to May," we have some delight- 

 ful references to song-birds : — 



" Awak' out of your sluggairdy, 

 To heir ^ the birdis melody, 

 Quhais suggarit-nottis loud and cleir ^ 

 Is now ane paradice ^ to heir. 



The new-cled purpor hevin espy,* 

 Behold the lark now in the sky. 

 With busy wyng sche clymes on hicht ^ 

 For girt joy of the day is light." ^ 



Here we are in a different atmosphere — not now that of the 

 gourmand, but of the poet. We have the lark again mentioned 

 in Dunbar's brilliant and beautiful poem, " The Thrissill and 

 the Eois." ^ It is an epithalamium written in honour of the 

 marriage of Margaret Tudor to James IV. of Scotland. Amidst 

 many beautiful verses there are two which meet our purpose^ 

 The English Eose is receiving her crown, and as she takes it 

 into her fair hands the birds burst out into a psean of saluta- 

 tion and of praise. The verses are full of fancy, with richness 

 of expression and resonance of melody : — 



" Thaire all the birdis sing with voice on hicht, 

 Quhois mirthful! soun wes mervellous to heir ; 

 The mavyis sang : Haill Eois most riche and richt, 

 That dois upflureiss ^ undir Phebus speir ; 

 Haill plant of youth, haill Princes dochter deir ; 

 Haill blosom.e breking out of the bluid royale, 

 Quhois pretius vertew is imperiall. 

 The merle scho ^ sang, Haill Eois of most delyt, 

 Haill of all flouris quene and soverane ; 



^ Hear. '-^ Whose sugared-notes loud and clear, 



^ Paradise. ■* The new-clad purple heaven espy, 



^ With busy wing she climbs on high. ^ For great joy of the day's light. 



7 " The Thistle and the Rose. " ^ XJpflower. ^ She. 



