T1JE NIGHTINGALE. 3 09 



not sing either to amuse the female, or relieve her fatigue 

 during the long period of incubation. In fact, the female 

 performs this office from a natural emotion or longing, which is 

 more powerful than love. While engaged in it, she seems to 

 experience a peculiar feeling of content, of which we can 

 form no conception, yet which in any case should prevent us 

 from imagining that she stands in need of consolation. And 

 as, therefore, it is not from duty that the female sits, we can- 

 not suppose that the song of the male has any reference to her 

 emotions; indeed, it is observed that he does not sing while 

 the second brood is being hatched. 



"It is love, and especially the first season of love, which 

 inspires the song of these birds. The spring awakes in them the 

 desire of love and the desire of song at once ; the males are the 

 most ardent, and therefore sing the most, and if placed, as in 

 an aviary, where they are unable to satisfy their sexual desires, 

 and so extinguish at the same time the love of song, will sing 

 through the greater part of the year. Instances are known of 

 Nightingales which put forth the full beauty and power of 

 their song, within a few hours after having been caught. 

 These are, however, rare cases, and may feel very acutely the 

 loss of their liberty ; they would starve themselves to death 

 if their food were not crammed down their throats, or injure 

 themselves against the roof of their cage, were not their wings 

 tied; though at last the desire to sing, supported by more 

 powerful desires, conquers, and they become partially recon- 

 ciled to captivity. 



" The song of other birds, the tones of an instrument or of 

 the human voice, seem to have a powerful and exciting effect 

 on the Nightingale ; they approach hastily, as if attracted by 

 the agreeable sounds. From the fact that a duett seems to have 

 greater charms for them than a solo, it might be inferred that 

 they are not destitute of the sense of harmony. They do not 

 listen in silence, but strive with their rivals, and try by every 

 possible exertion not only to overpower them, but to drown 

 every noise, of whatever kind. It is said that some have been 

 known to drop down dead, having overstrained their vital 

 powers in these contentions ; and I have heard of one, which, 

 when a Siskin near it began to sing, would not cease to utter 

 an angry twittering till she had reduced the offender to silence, 



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