Birds. 241 



years ago 1 communicated to Professor Macgillivray, and which he 

 has thought worthy of record in his admirable work on British birds. 

 Perhaps I may be permitted to do so in nearly the words 1 then used. 

 "The nightingales arrived in Calder wood, in Mid Lothian, in the ear- 

 ly part of the summer of 1826 — a remarkably warm season. I cannot 

 remember so far back, but creditable eye and ear witnesses, among 

 trhom I may mention my father, the Rev. Dr. Duncan, gave me the 

 information. Before and about midnight, while the full moon shone 

 bright and clear, the superior warble of the male was first heard, which 

 soon attracted a number of admiring individuals, who hastened to the 

 spot, supposing it at first to be an escaped canary. The owner of the 

 wood was extremely anxious to preserve them, thinking that perhaps 

 they might propagate ; but with all his care and attention, some ma- 

 licious and selfish individuals attempted to take them with bird-lime, 

 but failing in their efforts, they afterwards shot the male, upon which 

 the female left the wood." * 



The Meadow Pipit generally commences its song in the middle of 

 April. On the 24th of March, 1841, however, my delight and asto- 

 nishment were equally great on hearing it begin. I thought I heard 

 its ascending note ; and on looking round, true to the signal, there 

 was the little flutterer, hovering in the air above the moor, about to 

 commence its musical descent. This bird is only known here by the 

 provincial name of moss-ckeeper, 



TJie Swallow. — The enthusiastic panegyric by Mr Hepburn on the 

 author of the ' Natural History of Selborne ' (Zool. 146), gave me the 

 highest pleasure. Indeed the very mention of the name — ' Gilbert 

 White,' must fill the heart of every naturalist with delightful emotions. 

 For my own part, I regard his little work with feelings akin to religi- 

 ous veneration. Well do 1 recollect the day when my father put it 

 into my hands. The heavens were bright and the earth was beauti- 

 ful ; and as 1 wandered through the woods, perusing its pages — anon 

 listening to the songs of the birds, or pulling a fragrant flower — I felt 

 as if I had changed my state of being, and entered another world. — 

 From that time the study of Nature has been with me a favourite pur- 

 suit. Taught by experience, I am always inclined, when a person 

 professes a desire to become a naturalist, to bid him read the ' Natu- 

 ral History of Selborne.' If it interests and fascinates him, well ; if 

 not, he may bid an eternal adieu lo the study of the beauties of Na- 



* Macgillivra>'s ' British Birds,' ii. 334. 



