306 APPENDIX BY THE 



difficult to watch, heard more frequently than it is seen 

 in the shady groves. The song of the nightingale has 

 been described by one writer as " the most spirit-stirring 

 and gleesome in nature." The clearness of their note is 

 said to vary much with the climate, or rather atmosphere, 

 they chance to haunt, and as a general rule those that 

 belong to more southern countries sing more sweetly than 

 their brethren to the northward. The nightingales of 

 Greece and Italy are thought to be much more exquisitely 

 musical than those of the northern countries of Europe. 

 In England, they only frequent particular counties, avoid- 

 ing the northern and western districts ; and it has been 

 said that they have an especial partiality to those parts of 

 the island where cowslips are most abundant. 



The Starling, sturnus vulgaris. This is a bird of the 

 crow tribe, unknown in America. It is eight or nine 

 inches in length, of a plumage whose general coloring is 

 black, marked throughout, however, with triangular star- 

 like spots of white, or cream-color, whence the name of 

 starling. They are social, harmless birds ; active, and 

 chattering creatures, and excellent mimics. 



The Fieldfare, turdus pilaris, is another bird unknown 

 in America. It is one of the northern thrushes, visiting 

 England in flocks, during the cold season. It is a large, 

 meadow bird, with a grayish chestnut back, the breast and 

 sides of a rufous yellow. The fieldfares feed on seeds, 

 and on insects also, and are themselves considered a 

 dainty morsel by the human epicure, the ancient Romans 

 fattening them, it is said, on a paste made of figs and flour. 

 They have no song, but utter a singular cry when flying. 



The Raven, corvus corax. The raven of Europe differs 

 in some respects from that of America. In Great Britain 

 it is not an uncommon bird. It is said if a man in Eng- 

 land, at any moment, throw himself on the ground, in the 



