238 MIGRATION OF NIGHTINGALES. 



part of the Cathedral, when, after warbling a few notes for 

 a short time, it flew to another particular spot, and from 

 thence to a third, generally terminating its course "by alight- 

 ing on the pavement in search of small particles of food. 

 Hopes were entertained that it might repeat its visits in the 

 following winter, but its return was looked for in vain, 

 having most likely met with its death in the course of the 

 summer. 



The migration of Nightingales is attended with some 

 peculiarities deserving attention. In some parts of England 

 they are to be heard in every hedge -row, filling the air, 

 particularly at night, when most of our other warblers are 

 silent, with their rich melody ; while in other parts, to all 

 appearance as well suited to their habits, not one was ever 

 known to be heard; this comparative rarity or abundance 

 not unfrequently occurring in spots only a few miles apart. 

 It might be supposed that the warmest parts of the kingdom 

 were best adapted to their habits ; if so, why are they not 

 to be found in the southern parts of Devonshire and Corn- 

 wall, w^here, we believe, they are never heard ? As a general 

 rule, it has been said, that they are not to be met with north 

 of the Trent; but this is not strictly correct; as in the 

 northern parts of Yorkshire, as far as Wetherby, they are at 

 least occasional visitors. 



If they are limited to certain districts by the nature of 

 their favourite food, it might be interesting to discover what 

 this precise food is, so capriciously and unaccountably con- 

 fined to certain spots. We have alluded more than once to 

 the regular return of birds to the same nests and places of 

 their birth ; and it might be supposed that this would solve 

 the mystery, the Nightingales naturally returning only to 

 those spots where, for time out of mind, a train of ancestors 

 might have built before them ; but this is not borne out 

 by facts : for a gentleman who was very desirous of intro- 

 ducing these birds on his estate in a northern part of the 

 kingdom, commissioned a person in London to purchase as 

 many Nightingales' eggs as he could procure at a shilling 

 each. This was done accordingly; they were carefully packed 



