Gyngell : The Singing Time of Birds. 



147 



for love-making and for fig-hting-. Two quite different passions 

 you would think, but I fancy not so disconnected as we generally 

 suppose. We find that there is a lot of human nature in birds. 

 So as spring advances we note that the bird song is often 

 accompanied by strong coercive movements on the part of the 

 cock, especially if his chosen spouse won't take the hints he gives 

 of nest-building by carrying to her bits of grass, moss, etc. 



Now, in February, the Wren literally bursts out, seeming to 

 throii) his song at us. Apparently disgusted by the slow musical 

 time favoured by others, this tiny bird rushes out his notes 

 at such terrific speed that it is quite impossible to attempt any 

 sort of word representation of the performance. 



By the middle of the second month the Yellowhammer will 

 commence his part in the opera by demanding ' a little bit of 

 bread and no cheese,' or as my Scotch friends render it, ' Deil, 

 deil, deil, deil tak ye.' Singing in moderate time, but very 

 frequently forgetting the last syllables, in a way very peculiar to 

 the Yellowhamimer. 



About this time also the Corn Bunting commences to sing 

 his feeble and monotonous ditty. Then the joyous Chaffinch 

 comes on the scene, a handsome coxcomb who charms us with 

 his loud and rapid song as he thus addresses his lady-love — 

 Quick-quick-quick-quick do come and kiss me pretty little 

 dee-a.r. Now, at the time when the Chaffinch commences sing- 

 ing, he again begins to use a special call note which we rarely 

 or never hear but in spring time. His ringing call, ' Chink- 

 chink,' we may hear in autumn or winter, but now, in a rather 

 love-sick sort of way he calls Weet — weet — weet, with the occa- 

 sional addition ting-ting; thus: — -Weet, ting-ting, and from the 

 call 'weet' perhaps the bird derives its local name 'weety.'' 

 This special call is said to be most frequently uttered on dull 

 days or before rain. I /lave heard it during heavy rain, but it is 

 strange that one only hears it during those months that are 

 usually the driest and brightest. 



Now little parties of Linnets, that seem always to be in 

 a hurry, fly over the fields, chattering together like children 

 going to school. A sweet, delicate little song of considerable 

 variety, which seems intended to keep the little flocks together, 

 but presently, when these flocks dissolve into pairs, the cock 

 Linnet will sing much louder, especially if the hen bird seems 

 indifferent to his efforts and the charming rosy tints which now 

 appear on his head and breast. 



igo5 May i. 



