252 



THE STORMCOCK. 



at every point, I sometimes peevishly ask myself, 

 Why should Nature have made a provision in the 

 male blackbird, in order that he may soothe his 

 incubating female, and have denied that provision 

 to my favourite, the carrion crow ? And then I 

 answer my own question, by whispering to myself, 

 that the she carrion may possibly experience won- 

 derful delight in listening to the hoarse croaking of 

 her partner ; just as the old Scotchwoman did, when 

 she used to gaze at the carbuncle on her husband's 

 nose. In a word, I know nothing, absolutely nothing, 

 about the song in birds. The raven will whistle 

 you a tune so true and pleasing that you feel quite 

 enchanted with his performance; whilst his congener, 

 the carrion crow, notw^ithstanding all your pains to 

 instruct him, will remain as unmusical as Paddy's 

 fiddle, which w^as dumb for want of catgut. We 

 listen with delight to the many species of male birds 

 which make the groves resound with their melody ; 

 and we cannot imagine why the females so seldom 

 venture an attempt at song ; for we know that with 

 us both ladies and gentlemen are full of fine sounds. 

 Wherever a Braham is heard, there is sure to be a 

 Billington not far off*. 



However, should it be the case, in ornithology, 

 that Nature has ordered the male to sing his female 

 to repose, there are some exceptions to the supposed 

 general rule. J may adduce the stormcock by way 

 of example ; for he warbles nearly the year through- 

 out. I have often heard him pour forth his wild and 

 plaintive notes in the months of August, October, 

 November, and December, and in every following 



