1910-1911.] Burns and the Song-Birds of Scotland, 331 



Comparing the blackbird's song with that of the goldjfinch and 

 of the chaffinch, Burns noted its characteristic as strength. 

 The goldfinch sweetly sang, the lintwhite's note was clear, 

 that of the blackbird strong. He also in another allusion 

 denotes clearness as a quality, — 



" In days when daisies deck the ground, 

 And blackbirds whistle clear." 



The song-bird which Burns called the " woodlark " was 

 evidently a great favourite with him. He has several fine 

 references to it and one whole poem. Now I have no hesita- 

 tion in saying that this bird whose song he so greatly admired 

 could not have been the woodlark of ornithology. The wood- 

 lark is practically unknown in Scotland. It is a bird of the 

 woods of southern England. It is just possible that what he 

 heard were the notes of two different birds. One has to 

 remember that in Burns' day the warblers had hardly been 

 identified and distinguished. He could not therefore be 

 expected to know them when even naturalists were by no 

 means sure. He has at least three references to the wood- 

 lark. In one of them, perhaps the song he heard was that of 

 the tree-pipit. But with respect to his poem on the wood- 

 lark, it furnishes an accurate and melodious description of the 

 song of the willow-warbler. Indeed it speaks volumes for 

 Burns' observational powers that he should have noted the 

 songs of these birds at all. The tree -pipit is not very 

 abundant, although one has noted its lark-like flight above 

 the trees of a wood. It rises and falls as the skylark rises 

 and falls. It sings, too, as it soars, and the song is distinctly 

 lark-like in its warbling notes — not anything like so exuberant, 

 but sweet and catching in its gentle swelling and ebbing of 

 melody. At first sight this seems to be what Burns de- 

 scribes — 



" Hear the woodlark charm the forest, 

 Telling o'er its little joys." 



And again elsewhere, with more definiteness, he speaks of its 

 " dying fall " as " hailing the dewy star of eve " — 



" So calls the woodlark in the grove, 

 His little faithful mate to cheer. 

 At once, 'tis music and 'tis love." 



