CHAPTER XIV. 



CONCLUDING DIALOGUE. THE NIGHTINGALE. 



INTERLOCUTORS : CAMBRIAN, EA3T- ANGLIAN, BIRD-CATCHER. 



A country walk. Local curiosities. An agreeable surprise. Limits of the 

 Nightingale's migrations. Topographical caprice. The ravisher of Nightin- 

 gales. Particulars of capture. Subsequent management. Touching song and 

 wakefulness of the bird, Antique notions. Effects of a Nightingale diet. 

 Enter bird-catcher. Rural simplicity. Diamond cut diamond. The bird is 

 caught. Amount of its accomplishments. Modes of causing their exhibition. 

 Au revoir. 



CAMBRIAN. How I do enjoy this ramble ! It is the 

 very day for a walk. The delicate freshness of the 

 green leaves is a most luxurious contrast to the naked 

 twigs that for so long have been laden only with hoar- 

 frost and snow-flakes. It is cheering to see the spring 

 flowers once more spread out upon that shady bank 

 the lovely mixture of primroses and dog-violets telling 

 us, by signs on earth, how far the sun has advanced 

 through the signs of the zodiac. The air is bright here, 

 and clear ; but I think it is colder, I had almost said 

 keener, than we should feel it, if you were at this 

 moment paying me a visit, and we were taking a stroll 

 together on our Welsh coast, instead of through an in- 

 land Norfolk lane. 



EAST-ANGLIAN. You expected such a climate when 

 you came, did you not ? I hope, too, you remembered it 

 in packing your portmanteau, and included winter 

 flannels as well as clean shirts in your travelling ward- 

 robe. When the wind blows direct from the north, we 

 have it genuine as imported ; for there is not a bit of 



