372 THE GREATER NIGHTINGALE. 



or four lively meal worms, whose oft-repeated endeavours to 

 break out of prison attract the attention of the Nightingale. 

 Not understanding how these worms are placed beyond his rdach, 

 he continues to peck at them, until by degrees he tastes the beef 

 and egg, which is artfully rubbed over the sides of the glass. 

 This being palateable, he satiates his appetite with it, and soon 

 feels a zest for it particularly as his attempts to get at the meal 

 worms always prove abortive. He now eats regularly he is 

 meated off." 



146. THE GREATER NIGHTINGALE. 



Motacilla or Sylvia Luscinia Major, LIN. Grand Rossignol, BUF. Der 

 Sprosser, BECH. 



Description. This bird, though usually held to be only a 

 variety of the Common Nightingale, differs from it in so many 

 respects, as to prefer a valid claim to be considered as a sepa- 

 rate species. In the first place, it is, as its name denotes, a 

 larger bird, being six inches and a half in length, of which 

 the tail measures two inches and three-quarters. Secondly, its 

 head and beak are larger ; and thirdly, its colour and song 

 are both quite distinct. It must be confessed that it bears a 

 close resemblance to the Nightingale in disposition, behaviour, 

 and gait ; but this is also the case with the Blackcap and the 

 Fauvette, which, nevertheless, have never been looked upon as 

 varieties of that bird. The upper part of the body is a dirty 

 greyish brown ; the throat white, bordered with blackish grey ; 

 the breast light grey, with spots of a darker shade. The belly 

 is dingy white, the wings dark brown ; the pen feathers edged 

 with dirty rust-colour. The tail is broad, and, as well as the 

 rump feathers, a dirty rusty brown, which, in common with 

 the rest of the plumage, is of a darker hue than in the preced- 

 ing species. 



Observations. The difference in song between the Common 

 and the Greater Nightingale is very distinct. The voice of 

 the latter is stronger, more hollow, and sonorous ; its song is 

 slower and less unbroken, and possesses neither the "long 

 drawn-out" sweetness, nor the harmonious chord-like endings 

 of that of the Nightingale. On this account it is often com- 

 pared with the songs of the Missel and Common Thrush, though 

 preferable to them, in the purity and roundness of its tone. 

 In force its song is superior ; in variety and delicacy, inferior 



