THE NIGHTINGALE 



DAULIAS LUSCINIA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common yet local 

 summer migrant to England east of Devon and as far 

 north as Yorkshire ; a straggler elsewhere. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The vast Metropolitan area is exceptionally 

 well favoured by the Nightingale. Indeed, it is only 

 the lack of suitable conditions, such as proper cover and 

 food, that arrests its distribution short of the most 

 central parts of London. There is abundant evidence to 

 prove that almost within the memory of men still by no 

 means aged the Nightingale regularly frequented spots 

 now given up to the jerry-builder or the domain of 

 squalor and wretchedness. Nightingale Lane at Clap- 

 ham and Nightingale Road at Harlesden suggest Night- 

 ingales that are now no more. The vicinity of the 

 Harrow Road near Kensal Rise was formerly a haunt. 

 Here, as many readers know, Harrison Ainsworth once 

 resided, and we have it on record that his house was a 

 favourite meeting-place of Dickens, Thackeray, and other 

 prominent men in literature, and that these kindred 

 spirits used to walk along the Harrow Road and listen to 

 the Nightingales after their convivial gatherings had 

 dispersed. There are no Nightingales here nowadays, 

 and the Harrow Road, depressing to a degree, is one of 

 the meanest of London's many " mean streets," prome- 

 naded by Kensal Green-bound funerals, and presenting 

 countless evidences of squalor and poverty. There are 

 many other localities in the Metropolitan area from 

 which the builder has banished the Nightingale, but 

 fortunately there are some left where the summer days 

 are still gladdened by its presence. It is said that the 



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