ON THK NATURAL HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 223 



our common Nightingale with the Tawny Thrush, or more imme- 

 diately, perhaps, with the Tiny Thrush ( M. parvaj. It is de- 

 scribed, by Bechstein, to have " the whole plumage generally, and 

 in all parts, deeper and darker than the common species. The head 

 is larger, and the beak thicker ; the throat white, bordered with 

 black ; the breast brown, with darker spots ;" and it is said, also, 

 to be considerably larger, and longer by about an inch and a 

 half. It is a very loud songster, and sings chiefly by night, but its 

 voice is by no means so melodious as that of the common Nightin- 

 gale. '' It has," continues Bechstein, " a much stronger, louder, 

 and deeper voice, but it sings more slowly and more unconnectedly ; 

 it has not that astonishing variety, those charming protractions and 

 harmonious conclusions, of the common Nightingale ; it mutilates 

 all its strains ; and, on this account, its song has been compared to 

 that of the Missel Thrush, to which, however, it is superior both in 

 softness and pureness. The common Nightingale is superior in 

 delicacy and variety, but inferior in force and strength. * * * 

 The voice of the large species is so loud that it is almost impossible 

 to bear with it in a room.'* Its call-note, &c , as described by the 

 same author, are also very different. This bird, in some districts of 

 Hungary, Austria, and Poland, is said to be more abundant than 

 the common Nightingale, which it exactly resembles in its habits 

 and nidification. '' In cages," observes Bechstein, " they are fed 

 like Nightingales, but are less delicate, and generally live much 

 longer;" which, in fact, is another approximation to the Thrush 

 genus. 



Situation of the Nightingale genus in the system. — I would, there- 

 fore, rank the Nightingales (Philomela) in the order and sub-order 

 Insessores Dentirostres , in the Thrush family, Merulidce, and typi- 

 cal sub-family Merulince ; considering them to be about the smallest 

 species of that Jamily, and to be most closely allied to certain of the 

 smaller American Thrushes (pertaining to genus MerulaJ, which 

 they intimately connect with the European Robin, and other mem- 

 bers of the Chat division of the Pettychaps family, Sylviadce Saxi^ 

 colince. This I long suspected to have been their true station, even 

 before I was aware of the existence of intermediate connecting 

 forms ; and I am now much inclined to the opinion that, in all pro- 

 bability, species will yet be found midway between the Nightingale 

 and Robin. 



Analysis of its generic and specific names. — It i& hardly necessary, 

 perhaps, here to say, in conclusion, that the generic name Philome- 

 la is derived from two Greek words, and signifies " fond of the 



