THE NIGHTINGALE 91 



praises that have so lavishly been bestowed upon it, 

 because all attempts faithfully to describe it most 

 miserably fail ; it is not the music that is described, 

 but only the impressions it makes upon the recorder, 

 and the stock of our adjectives has long been ex- 

 hausted by one clever writer after another in the vain 

 effort to place on paper this wonderful song. Perhaps 

 we are most correct in saying that the song of the 

 Nightingale is not excelled by that of any other 

 known bird. It is impossible alike to describe the 

 varied notes as to give the order of their sequence. 

 The song is varied to an exceptional degree, the 

 sweeter notes being marvellously beautiful, but these 

 are often punctuated by others which are harsh if not 

 absolutely unmusical. The wonderful way in which 

 the song pours forth in a perfect torrent as if ex- 

 pressing the fiercest rivalry, or changes to lower or 

 softer tones as if of endearment, or yet again to notes 

 indicative of triumph, of taunt, or threat, or passion, 

 is known to every one at all familiar with its voice. 

 The song is also characterized by much repetition, 

 but we do not think the bird is much of an imitator 

 of the songs or cries of other species. Much that is 

 attributed by some writers to imitation or mimicry is 

 merely due to coincidence, or even fancied resem- 

 blance on the part of the listener. Upon its arrival 

 the Nightingale will be noticed to sing much during 

 the day, but as the spring draws on it becomes more 

 of a nioht vocalist, and we have remarked that the 



