356 THE NIGHTINGALE. 



of the breast and belly ; while, on the contrary, Nightingales 

 which are kept in small, dark, smoky rooms, are dingy rusty 

 yellow on the upper part of the body, greyish white on the 

 lower part, and greyish brown on the sides of the breast and 

 belly. 



The connoisseur is able to distinguish the female both by her 

 form and gait. Her legs are not so high, nor is she so erect ; 

 her head is rounder, her neck not so long ; her eyes smaller 

 and less bright ; her throat not so white. Nevertheless, none 

 but an experienced bird fancier could decide upon the sex, 

 except he saw both male and female together. 



The Nightingale bears so strong a resemblance to the female 

 Redstart, that the latter is often sold for a Nightingale, and 

 the former cooked for a Redstart. The characteristic differ- 

 ences are therefore worthy of attention. The female Redstart 

 is smaller, and the general colour of her plumage is darker. 

 The feet are thin, and, as well as the beak, black ; the tail is 

 lighter in colour, and its two centre feathers are blackish or 

 dark brown. Her long slender tail also is in continual mo- 

 tion, while the Nightingale only moves his occasionally, and 

 generally carries it above the point of the wings. His gait 

 and bearing are also prouder than those of the Redstart, and 

 his motions more deliberate. He maintains a very erect pos- 

 ture, and there is something very peculiar in his hopping gait. 

 After having made a succession of hops, he stands still, moves 

 his wings, elevates his tail and slightly expands it, nods his 

 head once or twice, and then hops onward again. If anything 

 attracts his attention, he generally looks at it with only one 

 eye ; if he catches sight of an insect, he does indeed hop 

 quickly to the spot, yet does not seize it greedily like other 

 birds, but stands over it a moment, as if in consideration. He 

 has in general a thoughtful air, though it must be confessed, 

 he easily falls into the traps and snares laid for him, as is the 

 case with all birds which are unfamiliar with men ; though 

 if one is caught, he is prudent enough for ever after. He has 

 been called, without just cause, an inquisitive bird, because he 

 always hastens to examine any place on the ground which has 

 been disturbed or scratched up. But this peculiarity, which 

 he shares with other birds of the same genus, is the result of 

 instinct, which teaches him that he will find in such situations 

 the insects which are his favourite food ; while, on the con- 



