NIGHTINGALE 49 



enjoy this unexpected serenade. I never before, that I 

 am aware of, heard more than one or two at a time, but 

 now there were three or four singing at once, and so 

 powerfully that the thrilling sensation caused by it is 

 more easily imagined than described. And what met 

 our eyes was equally astonishing, for we had barely time 

 to take up our post of inspection when my son directed 

 my attention, although it was not needed, to two of 

 these most elegant birds (for the Nightingale, though so 

 modestly attired, is inferior to none in lightness and 

 beauty of form) in pursuit of each other, and so regard- 

 less were they of our presence that they frequently, in 

 their winding, passed so close that I could clearly distin- 

 guish the colour of the plumage, particularly the reddish- 

 brown feathers of the tail, which was momentarily 

 expanded before alighting on the bushes, which they 

 occasionally did, within 4 or 5 yards of us, when they 

 would at once commence their song, which was generally 

 taken up, or immediately followed, by others that were 

 continually sporting about, occasionally alighting on the 

 ground, and one I saw, but for an instant only, pitch on 

 the public road ; they also frequently flew into the leafless 

 oak-trees, where they remained for a minute or so, singing 

 as if they would crack their throats, which were greatly 

 distended. During the continuance of the song I ob- 

 served that the body was kept in a horizontal position, the 

 head being brought down to a level with the tail, which 

 was, however, frequently flirted up and down at its 

 conclusion, when they would spring up or hop round, 

 reversing their position on the branch. There was, I am 

 inclined to believe, but one female among them, for I 

 saw but one pair chasing about, the rest flying singly ; 

 and, as they frequently passed over the open space left 

 4 



