220 



THE GREATER NIGHTINGALE. 



time, of forming attachments. When once he has made acquaintance with 

 the person who takes care of him, he distinguishes his step hefore seeing 

 him ; he welcomes him by a cry of joy; and, during the moulting season, 

 he is seen making vain efforts to sing, and supplying by the gaiety of his 

 movements, and the expression of his looks, the demonstrations of joy 

 which his throat refuses to utter. When he loses his benefactor, he some- 

 times pines to death ; if he survives it is long before he is accustomed to 

 another *. His attachments are long, because they are not hasty, as is the 

 case with all wild and timid dispositions. 



THE GREATER NIGHTINGALE. 



/•fotacilla Luscinia major, Linn^cs ; Le Grand Rossignol, ou La Progn^fj 

 BuFFON ; Der Sprosser, Bechstein. 



Naturalists make this bird only a variety, or at most, only 

 a species of the common nightingale ; but I find points of dif- 

 ference so numerous and so striking, that 1 think it right to 

 make it a distinct species. 1. It is larger by an inch and a half in 



* "A nightingale which I had given away," says M. Le Maiiie, "no longer seeing 

 his mistress, left off eating, and was soon reduced to the last gasp ; be could not 

 support himself on his perch ! but being restored to his mistress, be revived, ate, 

 drank, perched, and had recovered in twenty-four hours. It is said that some have 

 been known, when set at liberty in the woods, to return to their masters." It is 

 auite certain that they recognise the voice of their masters and mistresses, and 

 approach at their call. 



t According to the Greeks, Progn^ was metamorphosed into a nightingale, and 

 Philomel, her sister, into a swallow. The Latins have changed and confused this 

 story, which the moderns have, in their turn, copied without examination. 



