WARBLERS. 83 



After they had flown, the introduced songsters 

 were observed for some time about the vicinity ; 

 but in September, the usual period for the depar- 

 ture of the species, they disappeared, and never 

 returned to the place of their birth. 



The like disappointment attended a similar 

 essay to introduce the species into South Wales. 

 A few years ago a gentleman of Gower, the pen- 

 insula beyond Swansea, procured some scores of 

 young Nightingales from Norfolk and Surrey, 

 " hoping that an acquaintance with his beautiful 

 woods and their mild climate would induce a 

 second visit, but the law of nature was too strong 

 for him, and not a single bird returned."* 



Like most of our summer visitors, the male 

 Nightingales arrive in their migration several days 

 before the females, and commence their song im- 

 mediately. The London bird-catchers are doubly 

 diligent at this time, aware that the males cap- 

 tured after they have obtained mates either do 

 not survive the confinement, or at least continue 

 silent. It frequents the hedge-rows and copses 

 rather than the large woods ; around London, the 

 extensive grounds of the market-gardeners are 

 favourite resorts with it. The nest is built either 

 on or near the ground, among decaying leaves, 

 and is rather loosely constructed of dried grass 

 and slender root-fibres. The eggs are of an uni- 

 form olive hue, without spots : the young, in their 

 first plumage, are mottled, as in the Thrushes. 

 The song of the parents ceases as soon as the 

 young are hatched, early in June. 



The melody of the Nightingale, uttered as it 

 is, though not exclusively, during the solemn 



* YarrelPs Brit. Birds, i. 303. 



