320 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



reddish brown. Two or more broods are reared in a 

 season, the first clutch being frequently laid in March. 

 The full-grown young are often driven away by the 

 old birds, for each pair likes to keep its own ground, 

 however small in area, free from others of its kind. It 

 is notoriously pugnacious in defence of its rights. 



THE NIGHTINGALE 



(Daulias luscinia). 



Plate 121. 



The Nightingale is about the size of the Robin, but of 

 more slender build. Its plumage is dull and plain, but 

 it makes up for this by the beauty of its song. As 

 every one knows, the Nightingale's song is to be heard for 

 a few weeks in early summer, more pai'ticularly on still 

 nights, but also during the day. It has become a sort 

 of convention in England, less so on the Continent, 

 to regard the Nightingale's music as the very acme of 

 bird-song. Personally, we agree with those who consider 

 that some of our Warblers, for instance, are superior as 

 songsters. The Nightingale has many displeasing notes 

 in its song, and the whole performance lacks brilliance 

 and finish. Where it really reaches perfection is in the 

 magnificent, oft-recurring series of clear, flute-like notes. 

 Let us qualify our heresy. Had we first heard the 

 Nightingale with no preconceived ideas about it we 

 should have ungrudgingly called it a magnificent songster, 

 although never the very finest. But too extravagant 

 praise heard beforehand resulted in disappointment at 

 the time, and for us the Nightingale remains for ever an 

 impostor ! Yet, we admit, there are those with good 

 right to judge, and little heed of conventional ideas, who 



