40 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



the mind with a soft delicious languor, a wish to 

 lie perfectly still and drink of the same sweetness 

 again and again in larger measure. 



To some who are familiar with this by no means 

 uncommon little bird, it may seem that I am over- 

 stating the charm of its melody. I can only say that 

 the mood I was then in made me very keenly appre- 

 ciative ; also that I have never heard any other 

 individual of this species able to produce precisely 

 the same effect. We know that there are quite 

 remarkable differences in the songs of birds of the 

 same species, that among several that appear to be 

 perfect and to sing ahke one will possess a charm 

 above the other. The truth is they are not alike ; 

 they affect us differently, but the sense is not fine 

 enough or not suflBciently trained to detect the 

 cause. The poet's words may be used of this natural 

 melody as well as of the works of art — 



" O the litde more and how much it is I " 



There were about the village, within a few minutes' 

 walk of the cottage, not fewer than half a dozen 

 tree-pipits, each inhabiting a favourite spot where I 

 could always count on finding and hearing him at 

 almost any hour of the day from sunrise to sunset. 

 Yet I cared not for these. To the one chosen bird I 

 returned daily to spend the hot hours, lying in the 

 shade and listening to his strain. Finally I allowed 



