BIRDS AT THEIR BEST 35 



reasons. Voices which have the quality of 

 ventriloquism, or are in any way mysterious, 

 or are suggestive of human tones, are extremely 

 persistent ; and such voices are found in owls, 

 pigeons, snipe, rails, grebes, night-jars, tinamous, 

 rheas, and in some passerine birds. Again, the 

 swallows are not remarkable as singers compared 

 with thrushes, finches, and other melodists ; but 

 on account of their intrinsic charm and beauty, 

 their interesting habits, and the sentiment they 

 inspire, we listen to them emotionally ; and I 

 accordingly find that the language of the five 

 species of swallows I was formerly accustomed 

 to see and hear continues as distinct in my mind 

 as that of the chimney swallow, which I listen 

 to every summer in England. 



I had meant in this chapter to give three or 

 four or half-a-dozen instances of birds seen at 

 their best, instead of the one I have given — that 

 of the long-tailed tit ; and as many more images 

 in which a rare, unforgettable effect was pro- 

 duced by melody. For as with sights so it is 

 with sounds : for these too there are " special 

 moments," which have "special grace." But 



