74 Nightingales 



returned, to brighten the whole country with their 

 songs. 



Before the March days are done, the little rest- 

 less chifF- chaff may be heard, calling incessantly as 

 he flits from branch to branch ; always perky, and 

 nothing daunted by chilly winds or leafless trees. He 

 is one of the first to lead the way in that countless 

 throng of fluttering wings, which have commenced 

 their long and wonderful journeys from far-off^ lands 

 of perpetual sunshine. Only a day or two ago and 

 that tiny chiff-chaff, who is making himself at home 

 in the garden shrubberies or the woods by the river, 

 was in Africa. 



Yet he has taken his flight, filled with the strength 

 of that unerring instinct of the wonderful things of 

 God's nature, flitting — flitting — flitting — a small fairy- 

 like body ; passing in his course continents and 

 islands, ocean waves and rivers, until — " Chiff-chaff, 

 chiff-chaff" — he is back in the old gardens of England, 

 to swell the melodious song of spring. Then more 

 put in an appearance : redstarts, garden - warblers, 

 blackcaps, with their bright cheery song, wood- 

 warblers, and others. 



Then come the warm April showers, when every 

 green and vinous bud is glistening with the diamonds 

 of the sky, and cowslips are sprinkled through the 

 fields and meadows, when rain-storms and bright 

 sunshine succeed each other, and massive glistening 

 clouds float like majestic icebergs under the blue of 

 the heavens. 



Hark ! amidst the chorus of songsters, the fluting 



