ninls. 219 



nest, and almost ready to abandon it altogether. He would always 

 delay his attack till this period, but as the young advance in age and 

 size, the more extensively and recklessly do their parents cater for 

 their support. 



When ravens set out on a long journey they always travel in pairs, 

 and so high in the air, that were it not for their frequent crying, they 

 would escape notice altogether. So great is the height at which they 

 fly, that no cliff or peak, however lofty, can cause them to swerve from 

 the direct course on which they are bent. W — . H — . 



Stobo Hope, May, 1843. 



Enquiry. — Does the Female Sky-lark ever sing P It has been a question in dispute 

 whether the female sky-lark {Alauda arvensis) sings or not. That she sometimes at- 

 tempts to do so I have no longer any doubt ; for the other morning, walking in the 

 fields, up sprang a lark from his " dewy couch," and with his throat full of music and 

 his heart full of joy, rode higher and higher, bringing to my mind those beautiful lines 

 by Wordsworth, addressed to the sky-lark, in which he apostrophizes it as — 

 " Type of the wise who soar but never roam ; 

 True to the kindred points of heaven and home.'' 

 When he had got through about the half of his song, and was preparing to descend, 

 up rose another candidate for attention, mimicing every action of the first, now hurry- 

 ing upwards as though in haste to get beyond the clouds, now shooting a little to the 

 right or to the left, then pausing for a moment suspended on vibrating wings, again 

 springing upwards, and so on, as larks are wont to do on a sunny morning ; but alas, 

 this was only a dumb show, or at least as nearly pantomimic as would consist with a 

 faint sparrow-like " chittering " uttered ever and anon. When wearied with its exer- 

 tions, this would-be songstress descended precipitately secundum artem, and rejoined 

 her mate, who, no doubt, felt considerable surprise at the ambitious vagaries of his cara 

 sposa. So miserable a performance involuntarily brought to my mind those of a simi- 

 lar character emanating from another section of the female part of creation ; to the 

 authors of which one of the leading reviewers lately administered some judicious ad- 

 vice, saying, that instead of imposing upon the world with their literary pretensions, 

 "they ought to be contented with marking pinafores and labelling pots of jam." — 

 Edicin Brown; Burton-on-Trent, May 1, 1843. 



Note on the arrival of a few summer Birds of Passage in the interior of E. Lothian, 

 during the years 1841-2. 



1841. 1842. 1841. 1842. 



Swift, May 5 May 8 Garden Warbler, May 11 May 19 



Swallow, April 17 May 5 Black cap Warbler, ...May 6 April 24 



House martin April 21 May 6 White-throat Warbler, May 30 May 2 



Bank martin April 21 April 30 Yellow wood-wren April 27 April 24 



Cuckoo May 6 Willow wood-wren April 27 April 23 



Whin bush-chat May 11 May 2 Sedge reedling May 13 



Redstart May 11 



