CHAP, xiv.] THE EAVISHEE OF NIGHTINGALES. 441 



in persevering to accomplish the object they had in view. 

 I have found the Nightingale's nest in the woods near 

 this house frequently, and if not on the very same spot, 

 it seldom exceeded half-a-dozen yards off. About two 

 miles from this place is a beautifully sheltered valley, 

 in a part of a wooded plantation (it is called ' Nightin- 

 gale Valley '), and the bird seems to be surrounded with 

 more companions than in any other spot in the neigh- 

 bourhood, although they may be heard in several places 

 adjacent. About four or five years ago, a poor shoe- 

 maker in Bristol, who makes an annual journey thither- 

 wards, was induced, through some deplorable fatality, to 

 extend his art of Nightingale-catching to the woods 

 adjoining this house. Previous to his coming, the bird 

 was a regular yearly visitor with us, and always inhabited 

 one particular tree, and from a window belonging to 

 this hotel I have often watched the thrilling and throb- 

 bing movements of the songster's little throat. But 

 the bird-catching shoemaker came and secured the 

 bird, and I think two others that season. The next 

 year we had no Nightingale's song to listen to, nor have 

 had ever since. 



" Accidentally, one of my healthy male birds escaped 

 from his cage, and though the season of his song was 

 over, still, more than once, as I passed, his reply to my 

 call-note convinced me it was a convenient place of re- 

 sidence for him till the migratory season. I expected 

 he would have returned again the following spring with 

 a female companion, so as to make up for the depriva- 

 tion occasioned by the shoemaker : but no such realiz- 

 ation of my wishes took place the woods here are as 

 desolate of the Nightingale s song as though the echo 

 of its silver tones had never been heard in Portishead. 



