THE GREATER NIGHTINGALE. 221 



length, being six inches and a half, of which the tail, also half 

 an inch longer, occupies two and three-quarters ; 2. The head 

 is larger, and the beak is thicker ; 3. The colours are different ; 

 4. The song is different. With respect to gait, manner, habits, 

 and the like, it is true there is a resemblance, which exists, 

 however, only in common with the whitethroats, and the black- 

 cap, which have never been considered as varieties of the night- 

 ingale. 



The upper part of the body is a dusky brownish grey ; the 

 throat is white bordered with black ; the breast is brown, with 

 darker spots ; the belly dirty white ; the wings are deep brown, 

 edged with dirty red ; the tail and its upper large coverts dirty 

 maroon, deeper than in the common nightingale ; the whole 

 plumage, in short, is generally and in all parts deeper and 

 darker, 



OBSERVATIONS. The difference in the song is very remarkable. The 

 greater nightingale has a much stronger, louder, and deeper voice ; but it sings 

 more slowly and more unconnectedly ; it has not that astonishing variety, 

 those charming protractions,and harmonious conclusions of the common night- 

 ingale ; it mutilates all the strains ; and, on this account, its song has been 

 compared to the missel-thrush, to which, however, it is superior in softness 

 and pureness. The common nightingale is superior in delicacy and variety, 

 but inferior in force and brilliancy. The greater nightingale sings generally 

 in the night, so that it is the real night-singer ; while among nightingales 

 this is rather uncommon. Its voice is so loud that it is almost impossible, 

 to bear it in a room. It is necessary to keep it always outside the window, 

 either by hanging its cage there, or by opening from it a sort of passage into 

 which it can remove. 



Its call is also very different ; hi ! glack arrr ! It seems also to pro- 

 nounce David, Jacob, and generally begins its song by the latter word. If 

 the song is complete, it consists of the following strains : 



Guia, gu, gu, gu. 



Hajai, hajai, dzu, dzu, dzu, dzu. 



Gorgue, gu6gugueguegu(>h, 



Hoa goigoigoi gui. 



Dzicka, dzicka, dzieka. 



Davitt, davitt, davitt. 



Gogock, gogock. 



Guedum, guedum, guedum, guedum, gue'i t 



Gai, ffoi, goi, goi, guirrrr. 



Gofft'a, golka, golka, golk. 



Hia, guiaguiaguiaguia. 



GlockglockglockglockglockgJock. 



Gueai, gueaiyueai gui ! 



Goi, guaguaguagua guagui. 



Held, heid, held, held hi. 



