THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

The chaffinch, somewhere invisible, added his monotonous song; the little bluetit flew from branch to branch with a short, quick note, in impatience at the concert; the blackcap sang as if he was uncertain whether to imitate the nightingale or the blackbird; on the top of a rugged and twisted old apple tree sat the chiff-chaff, calling his own name as loudly as if he were playing a part in a burlesque; the yellowhammer, who also had words as well as a tune, sang his refrain of “a little bit of bread and no cheese,” with a tremendous emphasis on the no; and the great-tit added its two notes, like a saw grinding not out of harmony with the rest.

Besant/Harp