1818.] Scientific Intelligence. 231 



According to Aristotle (Hist. Anim. v. and ix.), the «»3wv dis- 

 appears during the winter; but in the spring, when the trees 

 begin to be covered with leaves, it sings for a fortnight without 

 intermission ; as the year advances, it still continues to sing, but 

 not so incessantly. In the heighth of summer it loses the rapid 

 and various modulation of its song, utters only a simple note, 

 and, at the same time, undergoes a change of plumage ; on 

 which account in Italy it passes by two different names, accord- 

 ing to the season. 



Homer, in his fine simile (Odyss. xix. 518), in which he com- 

 pares Penelope to this bird, calls it xh&qw aqSav the green, or 

 more properly yellowish green nightingale ; and the Scholiast in a 

 note on this passage, quotes from Simonides the expression 

 X*agavx£v*s aydovEf, green-necked nightingales. Finally, Euripides, 

 (EAev>), 1117) after calling it aot^orctTov opyifla ju-eXaJov 



Arjoova doKqimeircav 

 " the mournful nightingale, the most musical and melodious 

 of birds," mentions its yellow, or orange cheeks |«fl«v yswuv. 



But the modern nightingale, as described by the naturalists 

 of England and of France, is of a tawny colour, verging more or 

 less to rusty on the upper parts of the body, and on the belly and 

 breast is of a pale ash colour, nor does it appear to undergo 

 any change of plumage at different seasons of the year ; for this 

 circumstance, in itself so remarkable, is not mentioned by any 

 naturalist who has observed the bird in Europe, nor by Sonnini, 

 who saw multitudes of nightingales in the Egyptian Delta, 

 whither they retire from the severity of the European winter. 



I have been informed that the nightingales of Moscow, and 

 of the southern provinces of Russia, are larger than the English 

 nightingale, and of a somewhat different appearance. Perhaps 

 Dr. Clarke, who is an occasional contributor to your journal, and 

 who has communicated to the public so much curious and inte- 

 resting information concerning Russia, Greece, and Egypt, may 

 be able to favour, by a solution of this difficulty, your readers in 

 general, as well as Your humble servant, 



R. N. 



VIII. Original Recipe of the Black Drop. 



The following account of the origin and composition of this 

 well known remedy, is extracted from a valuable work on 

 Typhus Fever, lately published by Dr. Armstrong, of Bishop- 

 NVearmouth, in the county of Durham : 



" The black drop was originally prepared, upwards of 100 

 years ago, by Edward Tonstall/a medical practitioner of Bishop's 

 Aukland, in the county of Durham, and one of the Society of 

 Friends. The recipe, passing into the possession of a near 

 relative, John Walton of Shildon, who also prepared that medi- 

 cine, was found amongst the papers of his brother, the late 

 Edward Walton, of Sunderland ; and by the permission of my 



