146 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



which is so marked in the character of this bird. 

 If only removed from its accustomed situation to 

 another, even in the same apartment, it becomes 

 restless and sad, and ceases its melody. It would 

 dash itself to pieces if placed in an ordinary cage, 

 where the light came to it on all sides ; but when 

 kept in shadow, it, in the course of time, con- 

 gees itself for the loss of liberty by singing and 

 eating with remarkable voraciousness ; yet a 

 caged nightingale must ever be an object of coiu- 

 miseration. 



The name of our bird is derived from night, and 

 the Saxon galan, to sing. The Italians call it 

 Bossif/nuolo, and the French Bossignol. It is the 

 Nachtigall of the Germans. It is rather remark- 

 able, that, though the nightingale is little known 

 in Wales, Pennant has given the old AVelsh word 

 Eos among his list of its names. 



The Eastern nightingale, the bulbul of the 

 poets, whose love for the rose is so common an 

 Oriental fable, like om' bird, sings during niglit. 

 Its voice is stronger, and can be heard at a far 

 greater distance, but it wants the mellow round- 

 ness of tone of tlie sweet bird of our woods. 



Second only in |X)wer and sweetness to the 



