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lovers of the beauty of nature. Coleridge says thus of 

 this bird ; 



„ The merry nightingale 



That crowds and hurries and precipitates, 

 With fast, thick warble, his delicious notes, 

 As if he were fearful that an April night 

 Would be too short for him to utter forth 

 His love-chant, and disburthen his full soul 

 Of all its music." 



He will sometimes dwell for several seconds on a 

 strain, composed of only two or three melancholy. tones, 

 beginning in an under voice, and swelling it gradually 

 by a most superb crescendo, to the highest point of 

 strength, he ends it by a dying cadence. His very strik- 

 ing musical talent, surpassing all other singing birds, has 

 acquired for him the name of the King of Songsters. 



The Nightingale is found all over Europe, in the sum- 

 mer season, more particularly in places that are shady 

 and cool, but not cold. In the winter they emigrate to 

 a southern climate, such as Asia and Africa, and return 

 about April. At this time they will sing throughout the 

 night, which drops off as soon as they are mated ; after 

 which they sing only in the day time, till the month of 

 June, when they stop singing altogether for the season. 



When caged, and well treated, they will sing for six 

 or eight months during the year ; some begin in Decem- 

 ber, some in January, and some in February, and sing 

 till the month of July. 



Their cage should be at least 15 inches long and a 

 foot high, in which are placed three perches, two below 

 and one above. The top of the cage should be of green 



