1910-1911.] Burns and the Song-Birds of Scotland. 325 



Mellow was a term which Burns commonly applied to the 

 song of the mavis. For instance, one recalls the couplet in 

 his well-known song, " My Nannie's Awa' " — 



" And thou, mellow mavis, that hails the nichtfa', 

 Give over for pity, my Nannie's awa'." 



Two other birds are referred to in this poem on Bruar 

 Water, and as this forms perhaps the only occasion on which 

 he refers to them, the reference may now be conveniently 

 discussed. 



The gowdspink — what bird was that ? It was evidently 

 a bird of attractive plumage, for Burns refers to it as 

 " nature's gayest child." It was also in his experience a fine 

 songster : it " shall sweetly join the choir." Now gowd- 

 spink is the old Scottish name for that pretty little bird, the 

 goldfinch. And Burns' description of its appearance, and of 

 its gifts in song, agree with the facts. The goldfinch is a 

 bird of bright plumage, of gay temperament and lively habits, 

 and moreover possesses a very sweet voice. 



The other song-bird to which reference is made is the 

 redbreast, but surely the reference is singularly interesting in 

 its descriptive accuracy. The robin sings more or less to us 

 throughout the year. You may hear its little, pensive, inter- 

 rupted song even in the depths of winter. In spring, of 

 course, it sings too, and that in a louder and more continuous 

 strain, but then in the spring-time its comparatively low 

 notes are overpowered by the more majestic melodies of finer 

 musicians. You can hardly catch its song for the magnifi- 

 cent polyglot of the mavis, the flute-like notes of the black- 

 bird, and the clear, rapidly poured forth song of the chaffinch. 

 But when the spring is gone, the summer is past, and the 

 autumn has come, then you hear the robin at his best. On a 

 fine day in October he is a quite different bird. The other 

 songsters are nearly all silent, the robin has got the field to 

 himself ; he seems to know of it, and takes full advantage of 

 his opportunity. He pours out his heart in a song which 

 astonishes and delights. As you listen you realise that never 

 before did you know what a fine songster the redbreast could 

 really be. And how beautifully do his soft and pensive notes 

 blend with the russet of the beeches and the pale gold of the 



