NIGHTINGALE'S SONG. 27 



resorts, attracting the female by its song ; and if by accident 

 the female is killed, the male becomes silent for a while, 

 resumes its song, and will continue to sing late in the 

 autumn, till he finds another mate, in which case they 

 will breed at a later season. But we must now let Mac- 

 gillivray speak apropos of the strain of this acknowledged 

 queen of feathered songsters 



For some days after the first arrival of the Nightingales, the 

 birdcatchers are on the alert, as it has been found that the males 

 which are caught before they have mated, thrive better in captivity 

 than those obtained after the females have made their appearance. 

 If the weather be not unfavourable, the males begin to sing pre- 

 sently after their selection of a locality. They continue in full song, 

 however, only until the young are hatched ; but it has been re- 

 marked, that when the female has been killed, or the young removed, 

 the male will commence his song again, and continue it until he has 

 obtained another mate. Although the sweet strains of the Nightin- 

 gale may be heard at intervals through the day, they excite more 

 admiration when listened to in the quiet evenings, during which 

 they are protracted to a later hour than those of any other songster, 

 excepting the Sedge Warbler. Most authors profess to be in raptures 

 when describing the song of this far-famed bird ; but some would 

 detract from its alleged merits, and consider it in some respects in- 

 ferior to the * Mavis and Merle.' My acquaintance with this species, 

 however, is so slight, and my capability of appreciating musical 

 talent so feeble, that I am obliged to refer to the report on this sub- 

 ject of a gentleman who seems to me to possess the qualifications 

 wanting in myself. Mr. Wood, in his ' British Song Birds,' gives 

 the following account of it : ' The strains are loud, rich, mellow, 

 silvery, and clear ; and so far from being a miserabile carmen, as sung 

 by Virgil and other classic poets, I know few songs which are its 

 equal in sprightliness and vivacity, with the exception, however, of 

 one part, consisting of three or four lengthened notes, beginning 

 \&cy piano, and gradually rising to crescendo and forte, which are 

 certainly of a peculiarly melancholy character. The song of this 

 bird does not equal that of the Garden Ouzel in mellowness, nor that 

 of the Garden Thrush in loudness ; but it certainly excels all others 

 as a whole ; at least all other British birds.' 



Izaak Walton's eulogy is more flattering : 



The Nightingale, another of my airy creatures, breathes such sweet 

 music out of her little instrumental throat, that it might make man- 

 kind to think that miracles are not ceased. He that at midnight, 

 when the very labourer sleeps so securely, should hear, as I have 



