POETS AND THE SONGS OF BIRDS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—In continuation of the interesting facts you have pub- lished concerning our poets' treatment of the songs of birds, I would draw attention to the following instances in which they have been admirably described by very recent American writers. The chirp of the sparrow has been rendered " Sweet, sweet, sweet, very merry cheer." The quail is declared to say "Bob White, Bob White, more wheat! more wheat!" The chaffinch has been described as God's little page, who asks the whole day long, " Your will ? Your will ? " And in " Penelope's Tour in Scotland" the wood-pigeon is said to murmur " Come, noo, coo-coo ! Come noo!" because it used to build on the ground, till finding that cows trampled on its nest, it placed it higher up out of reach, and now softly utters " Come, noo, coo-coo, come noo ! "—I am, Sir, &c.,
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