162 OUR NATrn: songsters. 



ascertained that there exists in different indi\'i- 

 duals a great variety as to the quality of the song, 

 not only when in confinement, but also when wild 

 in the woods ; and he considers that the singing of 

 a good whitethroat is little inferior to that of a 

 blackcap. This writer had one in his possession 

 for eleven years, and says that it was, at the time 

 of his writing, in as good health and sang as 

 well as ever, and that no song need be louder, 

 sweeter, or more varied. "It is," he says, "of 

 the same temper as the niglitingale, never suffer- 

 ing itself to be outrivalled. It will indeed sing 

 for hours together against a nightingale, now in 

 the beginning of Januar}% and will not allow 

 itself to be outdone ; when the nightingale raises 

 its voice, it does the same, and tries its utmost to 

 get above it ; sometimes in the midst of its song 

 it will run up to the nightingale, and stretch out 

 its neck, as if in defiance, and whistle as loud as 

 it can, staring it in the face ; if the niglitingale 

 attempts to peck it away, it is in an instant Hying 

 round the aviary, and singing all the time." 



Our whitethroat has so many familiar country 

 names, as to suggest the idea that the bird is 

 a general favourite. It is called Whey-beard, 



