THE NIGHTINGALE. 173 



this opinion. The diifcrent views taken of its song by poets may be summed up in the 

 words of the Abbe la Pluche : — " The nightingale passes from grave to gav ; from a 

 simple song to a warble the most varied ; and from the softest trillings and swells to 

 languishing and lamentable sighs, which he as quickly abandons, to return to his natural 

 sprightliness." 



A modern traveller describes the gratification which he once enjoyed in Andalusia 

 while hearing some of these songsters. He had wandered out to take a draught of fresh 

 air, perfumed as it was by the thousand aromatic plants that grew wild on the moun- 

 tains. On this occasion there were two birds, perched upon nciglibouring trees, 

 singing alternately one against the other, the one waiting some little time after 

 the other had concluded. Their prevailing note, was, as usual, that sweet and swelling 

 strain which, beginning in a low whistle, passes in rapid quavers to well-articulated 

 modulations, and grows fuller and fuller for a few seconds, mitil it reaches the pitch 

 of force and melody, thence declining to a close by equally happy and harmonious 

 gradations. 



According to Bechstein, " The first good quality of a uiglitingale is undoubtediv its 

 fine voice." He then informs us, that this bird expresses his different emotions by 

 suitable cries and particular intonations. The most unmeaning cry when he is alone 

 appears to be the simple whistle, " fitt ;" but if the syllable "err" be added, it is then 

 the call of the male to the female. The sign of displeasure, or fear, is " fitt," repeated 

 rapidly and loudly before adding the terminating "err;" while that of satisfaction, 

 joleasure, and complacency is a deep " tack," which may be imitated by smacking the 

 tongue. In anger, jealousy, rivalry, or any extraordinary event, he utters hoarse dis- 

 agreeable sounds, somewhat like a jay, or a cat. Lastly, in the season of paii'ing, during 

 their playful gambles, a gentle subdued warbling is all that is heard. 



" Xature," he continues, "has granted these tones to both sexes ; but the male is 

 endowed with so very striking a musical talent, that, in this respect, he surpasses all 

 birds, and has acquired the name of the king of songsters. The strength of his vocal 

 organ is, indeed, wonderful ; and it has been found that the muscles of his larynx are 

 (proportionally) much more powerful than those of any other bird. But it is less the 

 strength than the compass, flexibility, prodigious variety, and harmony of his voice, 

 which make it so admired by all lovers of the beautiful. Sometimes dwelling for minutes 

 on a strain composed of only two or three melancholy tones, he begins in an under voice, 

 and swelling it gradually by the most superb crescendo to the highest point of streno-th, 

 he ends it by a dying cadence ; or, it consists of a rapid succession of more brilliant 

 sounds, terminated, like many other strains of his song, by some detached ascendino' notes. 

 Twenty-four different strains or couplets may be reckoned in the song of a fine nightin- 

 gale, without including its delicate little variations ; for among these, as among other 

 musicians, there are some great performers and many naiddling ones. This sono- is so 

 articulate that it may be very well written. 



" The nightingales of all countries, the south as well as the north, appear to sing in the 

 same manner ; but there is, as has been observed, so great a difference that we cannot help 

 acknowledging that one has a great superiority over another. On points of beauty, how- 

 ever, where the senses are the judges, each has his own pecidiar taste. If one nightingale 

 has the talent of dwelling agreeably on his notes, another utters his with peculiar bril- 

 liancy ; a third lengthens out his strain in a peculiar manner ; and a fourth excels in the 

 silveriness of his voice. All four may excel in their style, and each will find his admirer ; 

 and it is very ditEcult to decide which merits the palm of victory. There, are, however, indi- 

 viduals so very superior as to unite all the beauties of power and melody ; these are generally 

 birds which, having been hatched with the necessary qualifications, in a district well supplied 

 with nightingales, appropriate whatever is most striking in the song of each. As the 



