122 SYLVIAD^. 



that the Nightingale is not found in these two counties on 

 account of their peculiar geographical position. The con- 

 tinental ^Nightingales are observed to take their departure 

 in autumn, either eastward through Hungary, Dalmatia, 

 Greece, and the islands of the Archipelago ; or southwards 

 across the Straits of Gibraltar, but none by the broad part 

 of the Mediterranean. Hence we may infer that the bird 

 dislikes a long sea voyage, and that when in spring it 

 migrates northward and westward, it crosses the English 

 Channel at the narrowest parts only,* spreads itself over 

 the nearest counties in the direction of its migi'ation, but 

 is instinctively prevented from turning so far back again 

 to the south as the south-west peninsula of England. 

 From Scotland it would be naturally excluded by its 

 northern position, and from Ireland by the Welsh moun- 

 tains and the broad sea. 



For the dwellers in these unfavoured districts alone is 

 my description of the Nightingale intended ; for, where it 

 abounds, its habits are too well known to need any 

 description. Twenty-four hours of genial May weather 

 spent in the country with a good use of the eyes and ears, 

 will reveal more of the life and habits of the bird than is 

 contained in all the ornithological treatises that have been 

 written on the subject, and they are not a few. 



No great amount of caution is necessary in approaching 

 the Nightingale while singing at night. One may walk 

 unrestrainedly across the fields, talking in an ordinary tone 

 of voice, and not even find it necessary to suppress con- 

 versation when close to a singing bird. Either he is' too 

 intent on his occupation to detect the presence of strangers, 

 or he is aware of the security in which he is wrapped by 

 the shades of night, or he is actually proud of having 

 listeners. In the neighbourhood of my present residence 

 in Hertfordshire, Nightingales are numerous. They arrive 

 about the 1 7th of April, and for the first few days assemble 

 * This is the opinion of Gilbert White. 



