140 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



though little success attended the effort, yet Mr. 

 Sweet considers that there is no doubt that the 

 experiment might be made successfully in any 

 place where there was a good cover of undenvood, 

 and plenty of insects, if the eggs were hatched 

 by any of the tribe to which they are nearly related. 

 He tliinks tliat the Eedstart would be a good 

 parent. 



The nightingale is naturally a timid and retiring 

 bird, haunting the thick foliage of the woods, or 

 the deep recesses of some copse with a good 

 growth of shrubs. The neighbourhood of a purling 

 stream seems preferred by it, and it delights on 

 a hill side where a natural echo is found to tlie 

 song. The nest is skilfully concealed in some 

 thick bushes not far from the ground, or is placed 

 on the ground in a little hole, which the builder 

 can find adapted to its purpose. It is loosely 

 composed, so much so, that, as Mr. Yarrell observes, 

 it is generally necessary to pass a piece of thread 

 or string several times around it, before removing 

 it, if one wishes to preserve its natural form. It 

 is made by placing a few dead leaves of the oak or 

 hornbeam in the hollow, with dried grasses; and 

 when near streams, with pieces of rushes ; while 



