370 THE NIGHTINGALE. 



So true is it, that not even conscious and acknowledged superi- 

 ority is always free from jealousy." 



All Nightingales do not sing equally well ; some, indeed, 

 are such poor performers, as not to be worth the trouble of 

 keeping. It has also been remarked that the Nightingales of 

 one district surpass those of another ; and these differences, 

 the cause of which is not always easy to discover, have been 

 not inaptly compared to various dialects of the same language. 

 In England the Nightingales of Surrey are preferred to those 

 of Middlesex ; and the Chaffinches of Essex, and the Gold- 

 finches of Kent, are believed to possess peculiar excellencies. 

 It is possible that the Nightingale is often excited to rivalry, 

 and to practise and perfect her own song, by hearing the song 

 of the other birds ; and it is matter of experience, that these 

 peculiarities thus acquired, are transmitted from one generation 

 to another. At the end of June the Nightingale ceases to sing, 

 and her only note is a kind of harsh cry, in which it is im- 

 possible to recognize the qualifications of the accomplished 

 songstress. She is, indeed, at this time so changed in both 

 voice and plumage, as to preclude our astonishment at the fact, 

 that in Italy she is known under these circumstances by a dif- 

 ferent name. 



SWEET'S ACCOUNT. "This is a very interesting species, and 

 deservedly esteemer) for its song, which surpasses that of all 

 other birds, from its variety of notes ; it also sings the greater 

 part of the night, as well as by day. In its wild state, it fre- 

 quents woods, copses, and gardens, where it is often heard, but 

 seldom seen. It generally visits us about London, the beginning 

 of April ; in Somersetshire it seldom arrives till the middle or 

 latter end of that month, sometimes not till the beginning of 

 May ; some counties it does not visit at all. Its food consists 

 entirely of insects of various sorts, but it prefers the eggs of ants 

 to any other ; it is also very fond of the young larvae of wasps, 

 or hornets, as I believe are all the species of this genus ; but 

 these they can only get when procured for them. In confine- 

 ment, they will soon take to feed on bruised hemp seed and 

 bread, mixed together if a few insects be stuck on it ; they 

 are also fond of fresh raw meat, but prefer the lean part ; the 

 yolk of an egg, boiled hard, and cut up in small pieces, may 

 also be given them in winter for a change, if insects cannot 

 be procured ; also a little boiled milk and bread ; but the more 

 insects they have given them, the better will be their health, 



