The hours of silence are not barren for tlie nightin- 

 gale. He gathers his ideas and reflects ; he broods over 

 the songs which he has heard or has himself attempted ; 

 he modifies and improves them with perfect tact and taste. 

 For the false notes of an ignorant master he substitutes 

 ingenious and harmonious variations. The imperfect strain 

 which he has learned, but has not repeated, he then repro- 

 duces ; but made indeed his own, appropriated by his own 

 genius, and converted into a nightingale's melody. 



" Do not be discouraged," says a quaint old writer, 



" if the young bii'd be not willing to repeat your lesson, 



and continue to warble ; soon he will show you that he 



has not forgotten the lessons received in autumn and 



winter — a Jit season for meditation, Giving to the length of the 



nights ; he will repeat them in the spring-time." 



It is veiy interesting to follow, during the winter, the nightin- 



