NIGHTINGALE. 313 



expressed their admiration in more fervent or more natural 

 terms than honest Izaak Walton, who loved birds almost as 

 well as he loved fishes, and says: "But the Nightingale, 

 another of my airy creatures, breathes such sweet loud musick 

 out of her little instrumental throat, that it might make man- 

 kind to think that miracles are not ceased. He that at mid- 

 night, when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, 

 as I have very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the 

 natural rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her 

 voice, might well be lifted above earth, and say, Lord, what 

 musick hast Thou provided for the saints in Heaven, when 

 Thou affordest bad men such musick on Earth ! " 



The Nightingale makes its appearance in this country 

 generally about the middle of April, and the males arrive 

 ten or fourteen days before the females. As the males sing 

 well in confinement, and produce a price in proportion to 

 the perfection of their song, their arrival is taken imme- 

 diate advantage of. Many are caught by the London bird- 

 catchers during the first week, and these are preserved with 

 less difficulty ; but if a male be caught after the females 

 have arrived, and his song and attentions have gained him a 

 mate, he is almost certain not to survive his confinement in 

 a cage ; and hence the desire among the dealers in birds to 

 make the most of the very first of the season. Among the 

 best judges of the powers of the Nightingale, the birds taken 

 in the county of Surrey are considered to possess the finest 

 quality of song. By particular feeding and judicious manage- 

 ment, a male may be kept in song for three months together ; 

 and I have heard it stated by a successful keeper of Nightin- 

 gales, that a bird of his had sung his song round upon one 

 hundred and fourteen successive days. 



This gratification however is purchased with a lavish loss 

 of life. Mr. Gould truly says of the Nightingale : " No bird 

 is so easily trapped and no one is more difficult to keep in 

 confinement : nine-tenths at least of those that are taken 

 die within a month after their capture." Information 

 obtained by Mr. Harting assures us that, in the year 1867, 

 three London bird-catchers between April 13th and May 2nd 



VOL. i. s s 



