THE BIRDS. 



555 



In large gardens it is difficult to collect friends together, or to call 

 the gardener. I find that this is best done by a garden cry, which 

 is essentially the cuckoo's note. When employed in serious earnest, 

 it can be recognized nearly a mile off. I have tested it in the stillness 

 on the glaciers against the cry of the Alpine guides, but an Australian 

 lady on a visit to my garden declared the " Cowi, cowi " whch is so 

 essential to collect parties in Australian woods to be preferable, but 

 on this point we must make further trial. 



Tht; Garden Cry. 





Heigh ho I 



Gilbert White states that Owls hoot in B flat. Gardner, in his 



curious work entitled " Music of Nature," has recorded the notes 



of many birds, and it will be observed that many strophes which 



my brother has supplied are identical with those before given by 



Gardner, which proves the truth of both observers. A garden without 



birds is like a mansion without inhabitants ; and at all times, and 



under most conditions of the nervous system, their song inspires a 



oothing, melancholy joy. 



" Harde is his heart that loveth nought 

 In May, whan all this mirth is wrought."— Chaucer. 



Vifti. X.Vf-V— Portrait o. Gyp. 



