1 60 Suunner Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



of the bird. But, apart from such associations, I 

 should unhesitatingly endorse the general verdict of 

 mankind, and place the Nightingale at the head of 

 all songsters. There are, indeed, Nightingales and 

 Nightingales ; but when I listen, whether by day or 

 night, to a grand singer in the height of his powers, 

 with his heart full and his health perfect, I feel a 

 sense of wonder, nay of awe, with which no other 

 bird inspires me. That long sweet crescendo, unique 

 among all birds, that liquid trill of marvellous sweet- 

 ness, that swift and sudden cadence, followed by a 

 long mysterious pause — what a mind, what a love of 

 art one might almost say, must a creature have who 

 can invent and delight in such sounds, such startling 

 effects as these ! The Eobin is one of our most 

 beautiful singers, and in point of variety I doubt if 

 any bird can rival him ; but when I once heard a 

 Eobin try his song in a tree above a thicket where 

 a Nightingale was singing, his whole tone paled 

 before the fire and intensity of the master, — and 

 he seemed to recognise it himself, for he almost 

 immediately departed. 



Next to the Nightingale many would place the 

 Blackcap ; and the music of his song, if he is at 

 his best, is wonderfully- sweet and pure, though he 

 never gets beyond one simple form of strain. But 

 in splendour at least of performance, I am inclined to 

 place the Skylark second. Fully to appreciate the 



