396 OK THE HABITS OF THE BRAKE NIGHTINGALE. 



This defect is, however, obviated when several are singing together. 

 Beautiful as is the song of the Nightingale, it doubtless owes 

 much to the time at which it is heard, and the silence and stillness 

 of the hour. In the words of Shakspeare — 



"The nightingale if he should sing by day, 

 When every goose is cackling, would bo thought 

 No better a musician than the wren." 



Merchant of Venice, Act V, Scene 1. 



I cannot, however, fully subscribe to this, as I have frequently 

 listened to and admired the song of the Nightingale in broad day- 

 light, when the finest choristers of the woods were carolling on 

 all sides. The melody of the Nightingale may be recognised 

 whilst hundreds of other birds are singing, even by the most 

 listless observer. That the fact of the Nightingale singing in the 

 day as well as at night, was well known to the ancients, although 

 Virgil is the only ancient poet who mentions it — is proved by 

 the following passage, which occurs in Pliny's Natural History: — 

 *' Lusciniis diehus ac voctibus continuis quindecim garrulus sine in- 

 termissu cantus, densante se frondium germine, non in novissimwn 

 digna miratu ave" lib. 10, cap. 29. The term of fifteen days 

 given by Pliny in the above quotation is probably not incorrect, 

 as the Nightingale proceeds to build in the beginning of May, at 

 which time also, its song commences, and the young are hatched 

 about the eighteenth of the same month, when the male invari- 

 ably ceases singing ; should the female be killed or the nest 

 destroyed, the male again continues his melody. A rainy night 

 does not prevent the Nightingale from singing, as I have 

 frequently remarked from personal observation. The Nightingale 

 seldom commences his song in the evening until all other birds 

 are silent, or if he does, it is only for about ten minutes, 

 when he again ceases. Scarcely have the garden and the yel- 

 low-bill thrushes retired to rest, sounding their loud and peculiar 

 alarm notes, than Philomel takes up his dismal tale. It seldom 

 sings on dark windy nights; but if, in this state of aflfairs, the 

 moon should appear, it instantly begins warbling, and once 

 commenced, almost invariably continues the whole night, not 

 ceasing till two or three hours after sunrise. If on a dark and 

 windy night the Nightingale does not sing, it may generally be 

 roused by imitating its strains; if this be done on ^favorable 

 night, it will commence instanter, but on a cold chilly night it is 

 sometimes very difficult to rouse, although I have seldom failed 

 entirely. The shutting of an adjoining gate, the striking of a 

 church clock, the passing of a cart or coach, — if near a road — or 

 even the hearing passengers walking along the road, will fre- 

 quently cause it to commence singing ! — the very incidents which, 

 one might have svpposed, would disturb so shy a bird. It is, 

 however, probably on the same principle that Canaries and other 

 cage birds sing when a noise is made, or when they hear the 



