100 THE SMALLER BRITISH. BIRDS. 



her voice, might well be lifted above earth, and say, 'Lord, what music 

 hast thou provided for the Saints in Heaven, when thou affordest bad 

 men such music on earth!'" Most of the poets describe the Nightingale 

 as a melancholy and complaining bird, thus Thompson says, 



"All abandoned to despair BUC sings 

 Her sorrows through the night." 



And Milton, 



"Most musical most melancholy bird." 



But Coleridge will not allow our sweet songster to possess this cha- 

 racter, he says, 



" 'Tis the merry Nightingale, 

 That crowds, and hurries, and precipitates, 

 With fast, thick warble, his delicious notes, 

 As he were fearful that an April night 

 Would be too short for him to utter forth 

 His love-chaunt, and disburthen his full soul 

 Of all its music." 



On this disputed point let us take the authority of a naturalist, and 

 one well acquainted with the notes of most of our British songsters, 

 Neville Wood he gives his opinion thus "The strains of the Night- 

 ingale are loud, rich, mellow, silvery and clear, I know few songs which 

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

 one part, consisting of three or four lengthened notes, which are 

 certainly of a peculiai-ly melancholy character." For ourselves we will 

 only say, that the few notes here alluded to are so full of special 

 sweetness, that they have certainly impressed us more than the re- 

 mainder of the song, which in its other parts is somewhat broken, and 

 have thus produced a feeling akin to sadness. Much perhaps may be due 

 to the hour, and the surrounding circumstances under which we have 

 generally listened to his strain, the fast-falling darkness and the still- 

 ness of approaching night. If heard in the daytime, as the song of 

 this bird may often be, the livelier part would perhaps be more likely 

 to impress the listener than the more melancholy. This may perhaps 

 account for the difference of opinion we have referred to. Some orni- 

 thologists have endeavoured to give an idea of the song of the Nightin- 

 gale either by means of syllables or musical notes, the most elaborate 

 attempt has been made by Bechstein of which we subjoin a portion for 

 the benefit of our readers, and can only say, if they are able to form 



