138 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



But turning from the description of the strain 

 thus A^Titten do^v^l by our enthusiastic German, 

 we may pause to inquire how it is that the song is 

 really so mellow. Syme has remarked, that the 

 notes of soft-billed birds in general are "finely- 

 toned, mellow and plaintive ; wliile those of the 

 hard-billed species are cliaracterised by spright- 

 liness, cheerfulness, and rapidity." This difterence, 

 he says, proceeds from the construction of the 

 vocal organs. "As a large pipe of an organ 

 produces a more deep and mellow-toned note 

 than a small pipe, so tlie windpipe of the 

 niditiuG^ale, which is wider than that of the 

 canary, sends forth a deeper and more mellow- 

 toned note." Thus the soft, round, mellow notes 

 of this delicious singer, are to be ascribed to the 

 width of the windpipe. 



The nightingale comes to our island at the close 

 of April or the beginning of May, and quits us 

 for southern climates at the end of August or 

 commencement of September. The male birds 

 arrive a few days before the females, and no sooner 

 do these last reach the woods than a welcome of 

 loud song greets their coming. These songs, by 

 day and night, may be heard in full chorus during 



