London Birds. 15 



almost like a frog's, which a Nightingale gives every 

 now and then when the young birds are leaving the 

 nest, but only then, may not altogether destroy the 

 truth of the rendering. 



The beginning of the singing of the Nightingale 

 was, in old Persian calendars, the date for the festival 

 in honour of the return of warm weather. 



Another night-singing warbler to be found at times 

 in London a pair were seen not long ago in the 

 meadow between the powder magazine and ranger's 

 house in Hyde Park is the Sedge warbler, a pretty 

 little bird, not unlike a Nightingale, with a white 

 line above the eye. " The Sedgebird," writes old 

 Gilbert White, " sings most part of the night : its 

 notes are hurrying, but not unpleasing, and imitative 

 of several birds, as the Sparrow, Swallow, and Sky- 

 lark. When it happens to be silent in the night, by 

 throwing a stone or clod into the bushes where it sits, 

 you immediately set it a singing ; or in other words, 

 though it slumbers sometimes, yet as soon as it is 

 awakened it resumes its song." Another pair lately 

 settled for some little time beside the water in Regent's 

 Park. For six or seven years there has been a Fly 

 Catcher's nest in Rotten Row. 



The Wren, which, as his name, Regulus, the little 

 king, denotes, has been from earliest times a bird of 

 consideration, is fairly common with us. 



It was a Wren who shared with Prometheus the 

 honour of bringing fire from heaven, and more than 

 once since, the family has distinguished itself by 

 taking an independent line in public affairs. In the 

 religious disturbances of Charles II.'s time, the Wrens 

 were on the side of the Protestants, and once, " by 

 dancing and pecking on the drums as the enemy 

 approached," saved the lives of a party who would 



