324 Burns and the Song- Birds of Scotland. [Sess. 



large one, and shows us that Burns keenly observed the bird- 

 life of his country, and has interpreted the quality of their 

 song with remarkable accuracy. Of all our song-birds, judg- 

 ing by the frequency of his allusions to it, the mavis was 

 with him a prime favourite. In his affections, however, it 

 seems to have found a close rival in the skylark. He has 

 many beautiful references to the mavis. One of the earliest 

 of these occurs in a poem which he wrote during his High- 

 land tour. In the course of that, to him, interesting journey, 

 he visited amongst other places the Falls of Bruar, amidst the 

 hills of Athole. He found the falls to be a very impressive 

 spectacle, as the peat-coloured water dashed itself into foam 

 down one oascade after another. One thing, however, in the 

 poet's eyes marred the pleasing prospect. This was the 

 absence of trees. And so he wrote a poem, addressed to the 

 Duke of Athole, entitled " The Humble Petition of Bruar 

 Water." He describes the scene as he actually saw it. Its 

 effectiveness and grandeur were impaired by the absence of 

 the lights and shadows of cover. And therefore he takes it 

 upon himself to utter the complaint of the waters glaringly 

 exposed to the pitiless rays of the sun. 



"Would, then, my noblest master please 



To grant my highest wishes, 

 He'll shade my banks in towering trees, 



And bonny spreading bushes. 

 Delighted doubly, then, my lord, 



You'll wander on my banks, 

 And listen many a grateful bird 



Eeturn you tuneful thanks." 



And then in imagination he conjures up the scene which 

 would thereafter exist, and peoples the grove with choirs of 

 songsters. This is as accurate in its description as it is tune- 

 ful in its rhythm. 



" The sober laverock, warbling wild, 



Shall to the skies aspire ; 

 The gowdspink, music's gayest child, 



Shall sweetly join the choir ; 

 The blackbird strong, the lintwhite clear, 



The mavis mild and mellow ; 

 The robin pensive autumn cheer, 



In all her locks of yellow." 



