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Birds. 



songsters, as they have been the theme of poets and the admirers of 

 sweet sounds in the rural districts for centuries, and they may be said 

 really to have a " local habitation and a name," for they are both most 

 constant to locality near their resting place. The nightingale, although 

 his stay is so short, and his song still shorter, may always be found 

 within fifty to sixty yards of the same spot in the month of May, in 

 some favourite pollard oak or thick low underwood or hedge. 



Blackbird (Turdus merula). The beautiful plaintive song of this 

 bird places him third on my list of our singing birds. It -seldom com- 

 mences its song before February, unless January be nearly the extreme 

 of mildness. It has about six varieties of note, and has " the soft 

 melody of sounds, the sweeter for simplicity." The blackbird is most 

 brilliant in song in showery weather in May, mixed with hot gleams 

 of sunshine. 



Skylark (Alauda arvensis). The skylark, as Wordsworth says, 

 " Leaves to ihe nightingale her shady wood,'' 



and becomes a " pilgrim of the sky." The lark is underrated in its 

 song by many, being unheard in half its beautiful song from the height 

 to which it soars. It mounts to 



. . . . " The last point of vision and beyond, 

 A daring warbler." 

 " Ti ne to the kindred points of heaven and home." 



The descent to its nest is unique and picturesque. Its compass is 

 about 12, and it possesses great variety of note. 



Blackcap [Sylvia atricapilla). This magnificent garden warbler 

 enlivens our shrubberies for two or three months, but his fidgetty and 

 volatile character render his visits so short and transient, that unless 

 his nest is very near he is off in a minute or two, or even less, to range 

 elsewhere. On a moonlight night I have heard this bird sing as early 

 as twelve to one o'clock at Midsummer. It has been compared to the 

 nightingale, but it is far inferior: the " minor" and plaintive notes of 

 the nightingale are quite wanting in the blackcap. It is called the 

 " monk " on the Continent. I t is very properly rated as the first of the 

 garden warblers. 



Woodlark [Alauda arborea). This bird is almost unequalled in 

 mellowness of tone, and is superior to the skylark in richness and 

 clearness of its song. In consequence of its being a favourite it has 

 become a scarce bird in Gloucestershire, for the birdcatchers there 

 take them in the greatest numbers. The compass of voice of the wood- 



