THE SECRET OF THE WILLOW WREN 125 



the sound had any attraction for them, although 

 they must have heard it. The loudness of the 

 thrush prevented them from giving it any 

 attention, and made it practically inaudible. 

 It was like a pimpernel blossoming by the side 

 of a foxglove, or dahha, or peony, where, even 

 if seen, it would not be noticed as a beautiful 

 flower. 



In the chapter on the wood wren, I en- 

 deavoured to trace to its source the pleasurable 

 feelings which the song of that bird produces 

 in me and in many others — a charm exceeding 

 that of many more celebrated vocalists. In 

 that chapter the song of the willow wren was 

 mentioned incidentally. Now, these two — 

 wood wren and willow wren — albeit nearly re- 

 lated, are, in the character of their notes, as 

 widely different as it is possible for two 

 songsters to be ; and when we listen attentively 

 to both, we recognise that the feeling produced 

 in us diffbrs in each case — that it has a different 

 cause. In the case of the willow wren it might 

 be said off-hand that our pleasure is simply due 

 to the fact that it is a melodious sound, associated 

 in our minds with summer scenes. As much 



