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of Mergansers and Dusky Cormorants are fishing in the bay ; the White Gannets are flying in 

 strings towards the ocean ; the Eock-Doves glide past on whistling pinions ; and the joyous 

 Starlings bound toward their rocky homes. Hark to the cry of the Corn-crake, softened by 

 distance, now seeming to come from afar, now louder as if borne toward you by the breeze. It 

 has ceased ; but the Cuckoo calls to his mate from the cairn on the hill. Again all is silent. 

 The streaks in the channel show that the tide is ebbing ; a thin white vapour is spread over the 

 distant islands; and beyond them the spirit wings its flight over the broad surface of the ocean, to 

 where the air and the waters blend on the western horizon. But it is recalled by the clear loud 

 notes of that speckled warbler, that in the softened sunshine pours forth his wild melodies on 

 the gladdened ear. Listen, and think how should you describe the strain so as to impress its 

 characters on the mind of one who never heard it. Perhaps you might say that it consists of a 

 succession of notes greatly diversified, repeated at short intervals with variations, and protracted 

 for a long time — that it is loud, clear, and mellow, generally sprightly, but at times tender and 

 melting. You might add that two birds at a distance from each other often respond, the one 

 commencing its song when the other has ceased — and that sometimes several may be heard at 

 once, filling a whole glen with their warblings. Listen again, and say what does it resemble. 



" Dear, dear, dear 



Is the rocky glen ; 

 Far away, far away, far away 



The haunts of men. 

 Here shall we dwell in love 



With the Lark and the Dove, 

 Cuckoo and Corn-rail ; 

 Feast on the banded snail, 

 Worm and gilded fly ; 



Drink of the crystal rill, 

 Winding adown the hill, 



Never to dry. 



" With glee, with glee, with glee, 



Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up ; here 

 Nothing to harm us ; then sing merrily, 



Sing to the loved one, whose nest is near ; 

 Qui, qui, qui, kween, quip, 



Tiurrn, tiurrn, chipiwi, 

 Too-tee, too-tee, chin choo, 

 Chirri, chirri, chooee, 

 Quin, qui, qui." 



" No more, pray : the Thrush's song is inimitable and indescribable. It is heard at all 

 seasons in fine weather, but especially in spring and summer, particularly in the early morning 

 and about sunset. But it is not in sunshine only that this gentle songster warbles its wild notes ; 

 for often in the midst of the thick rain it takes its stand in some sheltered spot, under the cover 

 of a projecting crag or stone, and for hours, perhaps, amuses itself with repeating its never-tiring 

 modulations. 



