THE NIGHTINGALE. 



C4 



and motives of self-preservation produced at once what all 

 the pleadings of humanity could not effect. 



When fat, they are in considerable esteem for the table, 

 and probably not inferior to the Turdi of the ancient*, 

 which they bestowed so much pains on in feeding and fat- 

 toning. The young birds are frequently and easily raised, 

 bear the confinement of the cage, feed on bread, fruits, &c., 

 sing well, readily learn to imitate parts of tunes, and are 

 very pleasant and cheerful domestics. In these I have 

 always observed (says Wilson) that the orange on the breast 

 is of a much deeper tint, often a dark mahogany or chestnut 

 odour owing, no doubt, to their food and confinement. 



THE NIGHTINGALi^. {Si/lvia luscinta.) 



All the birds we have hitherto described are American. 

 We now come to a bird of the Old World, celebrated by the 

 poets of all ages. It is thus described by an English 



writer : — 



The Nightingale has little to boast, if we consider its 

 plumage, which is of a pale tawny colour on the head and 

 back, dashed with a little shade of olive; the breast and 

 upper part of the belly incline to a grayish tint, and the 

 lower part of the belly is almost white ; the exterior wet> 



