NIGHTINGALE. 77 



are hatched, unless a second brood is reared, when the 

 same wild, yet mellow, blackbird-like song is again for 

 a short time heard." 



The Rev. F. O. Morris thus estimates its vocal 

 powers : 



" It is one of those species which, as the Psalmist says, 

 * sing among the branches ;' and the note, which is heard 

 up to August, is exquisitely sweet, rich, and flute-like. 

 Its voice is mostly uttered from the depth of some 

 shady recess, but sometimes also from the top of a 

 moderate-sized tree. Some of the notes are low and soft, 

 others loud and clear, and the harmony of the whole falls 

 with a most pleasing cadence on the ear of the listener." 



It is by no means easy to distinguish between the 

 songs of the Blackcap and Garden Warbler ; but the 

 former is louder and more brilliant, the latter more flute- 

 like, richer, and more continuous. Mr. Parker has heard 

 the song as late as 2Oth August. I certainly agree with 

 Mr. Ussher that this is Ireland's sweetest songster. 



The nest is generally built in a low bush, and the eggs, 

 four or five in number, are of a whitish colour, spotted 

 with two shades of brown ; they much resemble those of 

 the Blackcap. 



NIGHTINGALE. 



Philomela luscinia ; Rossignol ordinaire ; Nachtigall. 



Bill, dark brown ; legs and claws, pale brown ; upper 

 plumage, chestnut-brown ; chin, throat, and breast, 

 whitish ; tail, red-brown, somewhat rounded at the end. 

 Length, over six inches. 



The Nightingale does not now deserve to be included 



