144 BRITISH BIRDS. 



not winter in any part of France, Germany, Italy, 

 Greece, &c., neither does it appear that they stay 

 in Africa, but are seen at all times in India, 

 Persia, China, and Japan ; in the latter country 

 they are much esteemed for their song, and sell at 

 great prices. They are spread generally through- 

 out Europe, even as far north as Siberia and 

 Sweden, where they are said to sing delightfully; 

 they, however, are partial to particular places, 

 and avoid others which seem as likely to afford 

 them the necessary means of support. It is not 

 improbable, however, that by planting a colony in 

 a well-chosen situation, these charming songsters 

 might be induced to haunt places where they are 

 not at present seen: the experiment might easily 

 be tried, and should it succeed, the reward will 

 be great in the rich and varied song of this un- 

 rivalled bird. Milton gives us the following 

 beautiful description. 



And the mute silence hist along, 



'Lest Philomel will deign a song, 



In her sweetest, saddest plight, 



Soothing the rugged brow of night, 



While Cynthia checks her dragon yoke, 



Gently o'er the accustomed oak : 



Sweet bird that shunn'st the noise of folly, 



Most musical, most melancholy ! 



Thee, chauntress, oft the woods among, 



I woo to hear thy even song. 



Nightingales begin to build about the end of 

 April or the beginning of May; they make their 

 nest in the lower part of a thick bush or hedge; 

 the female lays four or five eggs of a greenish 

 brown colour. The nest is composed of dry grass 



