Chapter VIII. 



SOME SHANGHAI SINGING BIRDS. 



Supposeithadhappenedthatinthe complexity of Nature's 

 evolution singing birds had been overlooked, or found im- 

 possible of development: what adifferenceitwouldhavemade 

 totheenjoymentof man! Forthoughinthe pursuitof pleasures 

 far less delightful, far less innocent, and much more costly, 

 many men do at times forget the charms which have been 

 provided for them with so liberal a hand, yet there are very 

 few who are at all times entirely untouched by the melodies 

 of their gardens and the music of the woods. It is said that 

 one of the attractions which act so powerfully on Americans 

 to take them over to their Motherland is the song of the lark. 

 There isso much about it in English poetry, so much enthusiasm, 

 so many raptures, that nothing but the reality heard with 

 one's own ears can satisfy longings so aroused. It was once 

 my pleasure to take an Englishman, born in Shanghai, out 

 into English fields for the first time. The spring was in its 

 prime, and by and by, of course, up went a lark, up and up, 

 till only good eyes could follow its form, and good ears the 

 song which poured from its quivering little throat as from 

 some marvellous pipe in the very heavens themselves. For- 

 tunately my friend was able both to see and hear and, during 

 all the minutes of the celestial solo, he stood spellbound. The 

 utmost height attained, our songster began his gently curved 

 descent. We watched him, and listened, all eyes and ears. 

 At last, when within some 50 or 60 ft. from earth, his wings 

 were closed, and he fell like a stone till within a yard or so 

 of the ground, and then his outspread pinions dropped him 

 like a feather on the sward. There was a deep sigh from my 

 companion which spoke volumes, but all he said was, "I 

 vvould'nt have missed it for worlds!" 



I have headed this chapter "Some Shanghai Singing 

 Birds", but from my own experience I cannot vouch for the 

 actual singing presence of the lark, (Alauda arvetisis), close 

 to the Settlement. We have, however, the authority of Mr. 



