THE NIGHTINGALE. 49 



part of Asia, and also on the banks of the Nile. It has 

 a strong predilection for the Spot where its first abode 

 was, and will return from year to year to the same 

 place, until the-^rove which supplied a shelter is cut 

 down, and even then another station will be chosen as 

 near it as possible. 



A modern traveller describes, in pleasing terms, his 

 gratification on hearing some of these songsters. He 

 had wandered out to take a draught of the fresh breeze, 

 perfumed as it was by the thousand aromatic plants that 

 grew wild on the mountains of Andalusia. There he 

 found an inducement to linger much longer than he had 

 anticipated. He had been delighted already during the 

 day's ride, especially after sunset and the commence- 

 ment of twilight, by the singing of nightingales, which 

 abound in Spain ; and, on this occasion, there were two, 

 perched upon opposite trees. They sang alternately, 

 and evidently waited for each other ; the one only com- 

 mencing some time after the other had finished. Thus 

 they exercised a degree of deference and politeness to- 

 wards each other not always observed by more reason- 

 able creatures. Their prevailing note was, as usual, 

 that sweet and swelling strain which, beginning in a 

 low whistle, passes from rapid quavers to well-articu- 

 lated modulations, and grows fuller and fuller for a few 



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