82 PASSERES. SYLVIAD.E. 



Sweden, Russia, and even Siberia, yet it does not 

 spread itself over Great Britain. In the south 

 and east of England it is common, from April to 

 September, but does not extend beyond Dorset- 

 shire westward, nor beyond Yorkshire northward. 

 In Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, it is unknown. 

 " Why they should not be found," remarks Mon- 

 tagu, " in all the wooded parts of Devonshire and 

 Cornwall, which appear equally calculated for 

 their residence, both from the mildness of the air 

 and variety of ground, is beyond the naturalist's 

 penetration. The bounds prescribed to all ani- 

 mals, and even plants, is a curious and important 

 fact in the great works of nature. It has been 

 observed that the Nightingale may possibly not 

 be found in any part but where cowslips grow 

 plentifully ; certainly, with respect to Devonshire 

 and Cornwall, this coincidence is just." 



An attempt made to introduce this admired 

 bird into Scotland, though well conducted, failed 

 of success. Sir John Sinclair, impressed with a 

 notion generally possessed, that the migratory 

 songsters, both old and young, return to their 

 native haunts, season after season, procured as 

 many Nightingales' eggs as he could purchase in 

 Covent Garden market at a shilling each. The 

 eggs being carefully packed in wool, were safely 

 transmitted to Scotland by the mail. Sir John 

 had employed men to discover and watch the 

 nests of several Robins, in places where the eggs 

 might be deposited and hatched in security. 

 The Robins' eggs having been removed, were 

 replaced by those of the Nightingales, which all, 

 in due time, were hatched, and the young brought 

 up by their foster-parents until fully fledged. 



