THE NIGHTINGALE. 277 
The Nightingale arrives at its breeding-grounds in the south of England 
about the middle of April, but not before the latter end of the month or 
the beginning of May in the most northerly localities. As the male 
Nightingale sings well in confinement and possesses stich rich and varied 
musical powers, it is sought after eagerly by the bird-catchers, and during 
the first week or so of its sojourn in England great numbers are caught. 
But the Nightingale does not bear captivity well; and by far the greater 
number that are caught die within a short time of their capture. It is 
said that if a male is caught after having found a mate, he seldom lives in 
confinement, but pines away. The bird-catchers, therefore, are always on 
the look-out to entrap their victims the moment they arrive. Birds caught 
in the autumn seldom live long. 
The Nightingale in many of its habits closely resembles the Robin; 
and the haunts it affects are in many cases very similar. Singularly 
enough, it is only found in certain localities in England, shunning 
others which seem in all respects suited to it. The Nightingale is a very 
skulking bird, frequenting the dense undergrowth, hopping restlessly about 
the cover, and when alarmed it instantly finds shelter amongst the tangled 
vegetation. Sometimes in the woods and coppices it is seen flitting across 
the path ; and its harsh croaking call-note, something like the Whitethroat’s, 
may be heard from all parts of the cover. The haunts of the Nightingale 
are woods and plantations in which the undergrowth is particularly thick and 
close. Tangled hedgerows and the thickly-wooded banks of streams are 
also favourite haunts of this bird. In this respect it shows the same 
preference as the Robin, seeking marshy places where worms and insects, 
which form its chief food, are found abundantly. 
When searching for its food the Nightingale instantly puts you in mind 
of the Robin. It alights on the ground, looks carefully around, and then 
commences to turn over the dead leaves in search of worms and grubs. It 
will then hop daintily along, every moment pausing to listen with head 
slightly turned aside, and its full dark eye gazing intently at you. Like 
the Robin, the present species has a habit of repeatedly jerking up its 
tail, lowering the head, and drooping the wings. Although so fond of 
concealment, and so shy and timid that it seeks the cover. the instant it is 
alarmed, it may often be seen in the open places in the woods, sometimes 
by the roadside, or in gardens; but if observed, like the Thrushes, it 
soon seeks seclusion. When alarmed its note is a low guttural one, 
and it will repeatedly snap its bill in its extreme anxiety. Its call-note 
is a long-drawn plaintive weet, very similar to that of the Robin. Its 
voice is heard soon after its arrival; and it sings incessantly from 
pairing-time in April until the young are hatched in June. From 
this period its notes are rarely heard; for the bird is too’ busy bringing 
up its young to find time to sing; and when they are safely reared, 
