BRAKE NIGHTINGALE. 335 



For some days after the first arrival of the Nightingales, the 

 bird-catchers are on the alert, as it has been found that the 

 males which are caught before they have mated, thrive better 

 in captivity than those obtained after the females have made 

 their appearance. If the weather be not unfavourable, the 

 males begin to sing presently after their selection of a locality. 

 They continue in full song, however, only until the young are 

 hatched ; but it has been remarked that, when the female has 

 been killed, or the young removed, the male will commence 

 his song again, and continue it until he has obtained another 

 mate. Although the sweet strains of the Nightingale may be 

 heard at intervals through the day, they excite more admiration 

 when listened to in the quiet evenings, during which they are 

 protracted to a later hour than those of any other songster, ex- 

 cepting the Sedge Warbler, Most authors profess to be in rap- 

 tures when describing the song of this far-famed bird ; but 

 some would detract from its alleged merits, and consider it in 

 some respects inferior to the " Mavis and Merle." My ac- 

 quaintance with this species, however, is so slight, and my 

 capability of appreciating musical talent so feeble, that I am 

 obliged to refer to the report on this subject of a gentleman 

 who seems to me to possess the qualifications wanting in my- 

 self. Mr Wood, in his " British Song Birds," gives the fol- 

 lowing account of it. " The strains are loud, rich, mellow, 

 silvery, and clear, and so far from being a miserahile carmen, as 

 sung by Virgil and other classic poets, I know few songs 

 which are its equal in sprightliness and vivacity, with the ex- 

 ception, however, of one part, consisting of three or four 

 lengthened notes, beginning very piano, and gradually rising 

 to crescendo and forte, which are certainly of a peculiarly melan- 

 choly character. The song of this bird does not equal that of 

 the Garden Ouzel in mellowness, nor that of the Garden 

 Thrush in loudness, but it certainly excels all others as a whole, 

 at least all other British birds." Isaac Walton's eulogy is 

 more flattering : — " The Nightingale, another of my airy 

 creatures, breathes such sweet music out of her little instru- 

 mental throat, that it might make mankind to think that 

 miracles are not ceased. He that at midnight, when the very 



