THE NIGHTINGALE. arrayed in no gaudy trappings to attract attention-it is the nightingale, the theme of poets in all ages, the favourite of Milton. The nightingale is one of our soft-billed warblersbirds inhabiting our copses, groves, and woodlands; and hence forming the genus Sylvia of M. Temminck, and other authors. The chief food of these birds is insects, but many devour berries and summer fruits with avidity. THE NIGHTINGALE. Most go and come with the seasons; and of these the nightingale is the chief. It seldom visits us before the latter end of April, or the beginning of May, and departs in August, favouring us with its residence during a limited portion of our summer months. Its localities also are as limited as its stay. In the midland counties it is scarce; in the northern it is but occasionally heard; and in the western, namely Devonshire and Cornwall, it is almost unknown. As is the case with all the migrating birds of the great tribe of warblers, the males are the first to venture across the Channel, when they disperse over the country, resorting to thick hedges, copses, and plantations, where their song resounds at eve, and where they wait the arrival of their expected mates. The females follow in a few days, though not always, for it sometimes happens that cold winds and unpropitious weather delay their arrival for ten days, or even a fortnight. Dr. Latham informs us, that, as is usual among the migrating warblers, the male bird "remains on the spot to which it first resorts, attracting the female by its song; and, if by accident the female is killed, the male, which had become silent, resumes his song, and will continue to sing late in the summer, till he finds another mate; in which case they will breed at a later THE NIGHTINGALE. season." To this observation it may be added, that it is only prior to the work of incubation that the notes of this bird are poured forth in their fullest melody. At the latter end of the season, before departure, its voice has degenerated into a hoarse unmusical note. The nightingale is universally spread over the European continent, and the proximate parts of Asia. It is the bulbul of Persian poets. Sonnini tells us, it is found in Lower Egypt. Thus, from England, through a wide range of countries, is this unrivalled songster of the Old World distributed. Who would think of such a bird being ever destroyed to swell the luxuries of the table? Yet we read of Heliogabalus feasting on dishes made of the tongues of nightingales; and Clodius Esopus had a dish composed of the tongues of singing birds, among which those of nightingales were included. This dish, according to Pliny, cost about £6843 10s. of our money. So much for folly and extravagant luxury! To keep the nightingale in confinement is very difficult; and we are very glad of it. Why should we imprison the free-born tenant of the air for our gratification? Why should we feast our ears on the instinctive song of a prisoner, torn from his mate, and fluttering to visit his grove, and finish his half-built THE NIGHTINGALE. nest? Must the desires of man be pampered at the expense of the lower creatures? We are apt to consider such animals as beings of little value, or as utterly insignificant. Not so are they in the eyes of Him without whose permission not even a sparrow falls to the ground. The nightingale expresses his different feelings by suitable and particular tones. The most unmeaning cry, when he is alone, appears to be a simple whistle, the sound of which is like fitt, but if crr be added, it is the call of the male to the female. The sign of displeasure or fear, is fitt, repeated rapidly and loudly before adding crr; while that of pleasure and satisfaction is a deep tack, which may be imitated by smacking the tongue. The male and female nightingale have musical power, but so striking is that of the former, that he has been called the king of songsters. In his case, the muscles of the larynx are much more powerful than those of any other bird; but it is the compass, flexibility, variety, and harmony of his voice, rather than its strength, which calls forth so much admiration. According to Bechstein, twenty-four different strains, or couplets, may be reckoned in the song of a fine nightingale, without including its delicate little variations; for among these, as among other musicians there are some great THE NIGHTINGALE. performers, and others far inferior. "This song," he says, "is so articulate that it may well be written. The following is a trial, which I have made, as that of a nightingale in my neighbourhood, which passes for a very capital singer : : * Tiou, tiou, tiou, tioul. Spe, tiou, squa. Tiô, tiô, tiô, tiô, tio, tio, tio, tix. Coutio, coutio, coutio, coutio. Squê, squê, squê, squê. Tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzu, tzi. Corror, tiou, squa, pipiqui. Zozozozozozozozozozozozo, zirrhading! Tsissisi, tsissisisisisisisis. Dzorrre, dzorre, dzorre dzorre, hi. Tzatu, tzatu, tzatu, tzatu, tzatu, tzatu, tzatu, dzi. Quio, tr, rrrrrrrr, itz Lu, lu, lu, lu, ly, ly, ly, ly, liê, liê, liê, liê. Quio, didl li lulylie. Hagurr, gurr, quipio! Coui, coui, coui, coui, qui, qui, qui, qui, gai, gui, gui, gui. Goll goll goll goll guia hadadoi. Couigui, horr, ha diadia dill si! Hezezezezezezezezezezezezezezezeze couar ho dze hoi. Quia, quia, quia, quia, quia, quia, quia, quia, ti. Ki, ki, ki, ïo, ïo, ïo, ioioioio ki Lu ly li le lai la leu lo, didl ïo quia. Kigaigaigaigaigaigaigai guiagaigaigai couior dzio dzio pi." Izaak Walton observes, with equal truth and beauty, |