124 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



one nest in a season, unless the eggs or the young get destroyed, in which case there 

 is a second laying. The moulting season commences in July, after which, when the 

 birds are in new. full plumage, the autumn migrations begin. These journey ings are 

 accomplished in families or small parties, the birds flying with great rapidity to very 

 distant countries. In April they re-appear in Europe, the males about two weeks in 

 advance of the females, and at once seek their former haunts, and greet the old 

 homes in joyous strains. 



The Nightingale is easily captured with a trap. When taken from it, his first 

 food should be of the richest quality. He should be carefully fed by hand the first 

 few days, in order to accustom him to the new kinds of food in confinement. The 

 birds caught in the early spring are preferable to those caught later ; as the} 7 become 

 quicker accustomed to the cage, and sing during more months in the year. The 

 song of the Nightingale has been beautifully described in all languages. When 

 wild, his vocal superiority over all other songsters of the grove is easily apparent. 

 When challenged to a contest, he will fill a whole valley with his varied and beautiful 

 lays, full of the richest melodies. The song of a fine Nightingale includes twenty- 

 four different strains. His enchanting floods of music are well described by Buffon 

 as follows : 



" He commences with a half fearful prelude, in low, undecided notes, as if trying 

 the capabilities of the instrument, and intent on arresting the attention of the 

 hearers. By degrees he becomes more decided, his courage and his inspiration 

 increase, and soon the full harmonies of his incomparable throat are poured forth. 

 sonorous bursts, light, hovering shakes and trills, in which ease and purit} 7 are 

 united ; a subdued inward murmur, whose place in the scale the ear seeks in vain, but 

 which is all the better adapted for a background to the clear, distinct notes ; runs, as 

 rapid as lightning, uttered with amazing power, and often even with a tasteful rugged- 

 ness ; mournful cadences, hardly separable from one another, yet full of expression : 

 enchanting, penetrating tones, the veritable sighs of love and pleasure which rush 

 from the heart, and speak to the heart, so that the heart overflows with emotions, 

 and sinks in delightful languor. In the passionate tones, it is as impossible to mis- 

 take the expression of the feelings of love, as not to detect in the more artful, though 

 perhaps less expressive, strains, the desire to entertain and please his mate, or to 

 celebrate his victory over some jealous rival of his happiness and fame. The notes 

 already heard are enjoyed again in the echo which hovers about the ear, undisturbed 

 by any new impression ; and, if the admired passage be not repeated when the bird 

 recommences his song, it is replaced by another so beautiful as to efface the wish 

 for a repetition of the first." 



One chief reason why the Nightingale surpasses all other birds in song is, that 

 he sings at night. While all other song-birds are silent, he sings at the highest 

 pitch of his strength, and in a voice which is rivalled by no other ; while he far excels 

 all other birds in the flute-like quality of the voice, and in the uninterrupted duration 

 of the warble, which sometimes lasts twenty seconds. It has been ascertained that 

 the Nightingale's voice may be heard at the distance of a mile, which is as far as 

 the human voice can reach. It is remarkable that so loud and clear a voice can 

 come from so small a bird, but it has been demonstrated that the larynx of the 

 Nightingale is proportionately stronger than that of any other bird. 



