Grasshopper Warbler 



Nightingale 



lachcap 



The Master Singer 



THE Spaniards have a word for the nightingale, 

 " Ruisenor," signifying king and master the master 

 singer of the whole world of birds, whose song, they 

 say, embodies thoughts and feelings, joy and pain, 

 longing and love, in all their inmost depths. Many 

 have puzzled over our name, nightingale ; night is 

 clear, but " ingale " difficult, until one learns it comes 

 from the Saxon word " galan," to sing. The matchless 

 song begins at about half -past three in the morning, 

 or four, but may be heard at all hours of the night, 

 especially in moonlight, as by day, and the king and 

 master of singers may be set singing by music, whistling, 

 or less melodious noises. 



In mid-April the nightingales come, to sing until the 

 middle of June. They still seldom travel far to the 

 north or west of our isles, returning year after year to 

 their favoured haunts in the southern counties. 



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