THE SECRET OF THE WILLOW WREN 133 



Wood-Lark." The tree-pipit is often called by 

 that name in Scotland, where the true wood-lark 

 is not found, 



O stay, sweet warbling wood-lark, stay, 

 Nor quit for me the trembling spray, 

 A hopeless lover courts thy lay. 

 Thy soothing, fond complaining. 



Again, again that tender part. 

 That I may catch thy melting art ; 

 For surely that would touch her heart 

 Who kills me wi' disdaining. 



Say, was thy little mate unkind. 

 And heard thee as the passing wind ? 

 O nocht but love and sorrow joined 

 Sic notes o' wae could waken ! 



Thou tells o' never-cea,sing care, 

 O' speechless grief and dark despair ; 

 For pity's sake, sweet bird, nae mair. 

 Or my poor heart is broken ! 



Much more could be said about these and 

 other species in the passerine order that have 

 some resemblance, distinct or faint, to the human 

 i^oice in their singing notes^an echo, as it were, 

 of our own common emotions, in most cases 

 simply glad or joyous, but sometimes, as in the 



