HISTORY OF 



frequents the houses of the American planters ; 

 and, sitting all night on the chimney-top, pours 

 forth the sweetest and the most various notes of 

 any bird whatever. It would seem, if accounts 

 be true, that the deficiency of most other song- 

 birds in that country is made up by this bird 

 alone. They often build their nests in the fruit 

 trees about houses, feed upon berries and other 

 fruits, and are easily rendered domestic. 



CHAPTER III. 



OF THE NIGHTINGALE AND OTHER SOFT-BILLED 

 SONG BIRDS. 



THE Nightingale is not only famous among the 

 moderns for its singing, but almost every one of 

 the ancients who undertook to describe beautiful 

 nature, has contributed to raise its reputation. 

 " The nightingale," says Pliny, " that, for fifteen 

 days and nights hid in the thickest shades, con- 

 tinues her note without intermission, deserves our 

 attention and wonder. How surprising, that so 

 great a voice can reside in so small a body ! such 

 perseverance in so minute an animal ! With what 

 a musical propriety are the sounds it produces 

 modulated! The note at one time drawn out 

 with a long breath, now stealing off into a diffe- 

 rent cadence, now interrupted by a break, then 

 changing into a new note by an unexpected trail- 



