V 

 56 THE NIGHTINGALE. 



of the quill-feathers is of a reddish brown ; the tail of a 

 dull red ; the legs and feet ash-coloured ; the irides hazel ; 

 and the eyes large, bright, and staring. It is hardly pos- 

 sible to give an idea of the extraordinary power which this 

 small bird possesses in its throat, as to extension of sound, 

 sweetness of tone, and versatility of notes. Its song is 

 composed of several musical passages, each of which does 

 not continue more than the third part of a minute ; but 

 they are so varied, the passing from one tone to another is 

 so fanciful and so rapid, and the melody so sweet and so 

 mellow, that the most consummate musician is pleasingly 

 led to a deep sense of admiration at hearing it. Sometimes 

 joyful and merry, it runs down the diapason with the 

 velocity of lightning, touching the treble and the bass nearly 

 at the same instant ; at other times, mournful and plaintive, 

 the unfortunate Philomela draws heavily her lengthened 

 notes, and breathes a delightful melancholy around. These 

 have the appearance of sorrowful sighs ; the other modula- 

 tions resemble the laughter of the happy. Solitary on the 

 twig of a small tree, and cautiously at a certain distance 

 from the nest, where the pledges of his love are treasured 

 ander the fostering breast of his mate, the male fills con- 

 stantly the silent woods with his harmonious strains ; and 

 during the whole night entertains and repays his female for 

 the irksome duties of incubation. For the Nightingale not 

 only sings at intervals during the day, but he waits till ti* 

 blAckbird and the thrush have uttered their evening o«Il« 



