206 INSESSORES. PHILOMELA. NIGHTINGALE. 



NIGHTINGALE. 



PHILOMELA LUSCINIA, Swains. 

 PLATE XVI. FIG. 1. 



Sylvia Luscinia, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 506. sp. 1. 



Motacilla Luscinia, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 328., Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 950. sp. 1 Rail 



Syn. p. 78. A. 2 Will. p. 161. t. 41 Briss. 3. p. 397. 13. 

 Le K-ossignol, Buff. Ois. v. 5. p. 81. t. 6. f. 1 Id. PI. Enl. 615. 

 Bee-fin Rossignol, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. p. 195. 

 Nactigall, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 10. 221 Frisch, Vog. t. 21. f. 1. A. 

 Nightingale, Br. Zool. 1. No. 154 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 416. A Lewin's'Br. 



Birds, 3. t. 99 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 408. 1 Id. Supp. p. 180 Mont. 



Ornith. Diet Id. Sup Wale. Syn. 2. t. 229 Putt. Cat. Dorset, p. 8. 



Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. p. t Don. Br. Birds, t. 108. 



Periodical THIS bird, so justly celebrated for the sweetness and ex- 

 visi ant. t ens j ve power of its song, arrives in Britain towards the end 

 of April, or in the beginning of May. From the observa- 

 tions of professed bird-catchers, it appears that the males con- 

 stantly precede the females by an interval of ten days or a 

 fortnight *, as none but the former are taken on their first 

 appearance in the country. From this circumstance arose the 

 supposition, that the number of male birds greatly exceeded 

 that of the other sex. As soon as the Nightingale has reach- 

 ed the limit of his migration, he selects some favourite spot 

 for the accomplishment of those duties pointed out by nature ; 

 and having there settled, commences his song of love and in- 

 vitation, which is unremittingly continued till a mate is at- 

 tracted by its melodious notes. As soon as this takes place, 

 his unwearied efforts cease, and the song is only uttered at 

 intervals, during the tedious process of incubation. The 

 haunts of this bird, during its abode in our island, are con- 

 fined to particular districts ; it is plentiful in the southern and 



* I have observed this to be also the case with respect to most of the 

 summer visitants, and have invariably found it in the Willow. Wren (Syl- 

 via trochilus) and Wood- Wren (Sylvia sibilatrix). 



