330 PHILOMELA LUSCINIA. 



failed to sing both at early and at late hours, but never at 

 night, unless the moon was near its full, the weather calm, 

 and the sky serene. Indeed it has never been my fortune to 

 hear one of these birds sing at night, that is, at midsummer, 

 from eleven to one o'clock, or at an earlier time from nine to 

 three, for they always cease in an hour or so after sunset. 



" It is probably the opinion of every person acquainted with 

 the songs of birds, that the Nightingale surpasses every other 

 songster in this country. Be it so ; but with all due deference, 

 allow me. Reader, to make a few observations on this subject. 

 Before I proceed one line farthei', will you have the goodness 

 to tell me whether you have ever heard a Nightingale tutored 

 to sing in perfect good tune " Over the water to Charlie," or 

 any other such regular air ? " No," being of course your an- 

 swer, I offer you my thanks ; and now you have most positively 

 acknowledged that the Nightingale, with all its natural powers, 

 is not equal to the Bullfinch, which naturally has no song at 

 all. The Sky-Lark I am assured will sing eight or ten mi- 

 nutes at a time without the least intermission, and, although 

 the voice of that bird is not so sweet as that of the Woodland 

 Philomel, its song is very methodical, and of great compass. 

 Then the pretty Blackcap, what think you of it l Is its song 

 not varied, gay, sweet, and mellow, as much so as that of the 

 Nightingale l And what say you to the notes of the Goldfinch, 

 the Crimson-breasted Linnet, and above all, that charming 

 cherub the Wood Lark 1 A friend of mine, yet a resident of 

 York, once made me a present of two males of this species. 

 Sweet delightful creatures ! how oft they chased away from 

 me moments of despondency ! methinks I am still listening 

 to their most agreeable song, which indeed not unfrequently 

 called the attention of my neighbours in Great Russel Street, 

 where I then resided. 



" I am far, Reader, from being at all partial to the song of 

 any particular bird ; for, in fact, I love to listen to them all, 

 and am even fond of the hoarse croak of the Cormorant. You 

 may then well understand how delighted I feel when I listen 

 to the lively notes of any of the sweet singers which I have 

 mentioned. 



