Class II. NIGHTINGALE. 3^7 



hedges, and low coppices ; and generally keep in 

 the middle of the bufh, fo that they are very rarely 

 feen. They form their neft of oak leaves, a few 

 bents and reeds. The eggs are of a deep brown. 

 When the young firft come abroad, and are 

 helplefs, the old birds make a plaintive and jar- 

 ring noife with a fort of fnapping as if in menace, 

 purfuing along the hedge the pafTengers. 



They begin their fong in the evening, and con- 

 tinue it the whole night. Thefe, their vigils, did 

 not pafs unnoticed by the antients : the flumbers 

 of thefe birds were proverbial -, and not to reft as 

 much as the nightingale, exprefied a very bad deep- 

 er*. This was the favorite bird of the BritifJ? 

 poet, who omits no opportunity of introducing it, 

 and almoft conftantly noting its love of folitude and 

 night. How finely does it ferve to compofe part 

 of the folemn fcenery of his Penferofo ; when he de- 

 fcribes it 



In her faddeft fweeteft plight. 



Smoothing the rugged brow of night ; 



While Cy?tthia checks her dragon yoke. 



Gently o'er th' accuftom'd oak ; 



Sweet bird, that Ihunn'fl the noife of folly, 



Moft mufical, moft melancholy ! 



Thee, chauntrefs, oft the woods among, 



I woo to hear thy evening fong. 



♦ JElian cuar. bifi. 577. both in the text and note. It muft 

 be remarked, that nightingales fmg alfo in the day. 



Bb4 



In 



