SDf f OHJlittff. 155 



A' 



Ofthe NIGHTINGAL. 



Ccording to the judgment of moft men , th« 

 ^ -^ Nightingale carries the Bell from all other Sing- 

 ingiirds, opening her charming Mouth not onely 

 fweetly, but with much variety of pleafant Notes : It 

 is but a fmall Bird, yet hath a loud voice i which made 

 the Poet call her— — Vox^ & fmterea nihil. They are 

 fo well known, a defcription of them would be necd- 

 Icfs i and are not onely efteemed of here, but in Italy 

 and other parts. 



They appear to us at the latter end of Marcby or 

 beginning of Jpril , and very few know where they 

 inhabit all the Winter •, fome think they deep all that 



feafon. 



She makes her Neft commonly about two foot above 

 ground, either in thick Quick-fet-hcdges, or in Beds 

 of Nettles where old Quick- fet hath been thrown to- 

 gether. She hatcheth her young ones about the be- 

 ginning of May, and naturally delights to frequent 

 cool places, where fmall Brooks are garnifhed with 

 pleafant Groves, and Quick-fet-hedges arc not far di- 



ftant. . . , n 



That Nightingale which in my opinion is the belt to 

 keep, is he that is the earlicft Bird of the Spring i for 

 he will (ing the better, having more time to hear the 

 Old one ting than thofe that are hatched later. 



The young Nightingales mud be taken out of their 

 Nefls when they are indifferently well fledg'd in a me- 

 diocrity : for if well feathered, they will become fal- 

 len i and if too little, they are fo tender the cold will 



kill them. _ 



For 



