130 THE LARK, 



then, leads us to ascribe the- circumstance, not to defect of 

 memory, but rather to a roughness in the vocal organs, 

 arising from disuse. It is in this way that the chaffinch 

 makes endeavours during several successive weeks before 

 attaining to its former perfection, and the nightingale tries 

 for a long time to model the strophes of its superb song, 

 before it can produce the full extent of compass and 

 brilliancy." * 



The nightingale has not more happily inspired our poets 

 than the Lark (Alauda arvensis). Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, 

 Shelley, and Wordsworth have all sung the praises of this 

 famed songster ; while Shakespeare, in undying verse, has 

 paid many a tribute to ''the blythesome bird." Let us, then, 



" Leave to the nightingale her shady wood," 



and turn our attention to — 



" The lark, that tirra-lirra chants." 



Winter s Tale, Act iv. Sc. 2. 



This " tirra-lirra " with the other notes of the bird is 

 well illustrated in the following lines : — 



" La gentille alouette avec son tire-lire, 

 Tire-lire, a lire, et tirelirau, tire 

 Vers la voute du ciel, puis son vol vers ce lieu 

 Vire, et desire dire adieu Dieu, adieu Dieu." 



As the nightingale is called the " bird of eve," so has the 



* Bechstein " Ornithologisches Taschenbuch." 



