THE NIGHTINGALE. 



17 



Sylvia lusc'mia. 

 Motacilla ,, 

 Philomela , 



O bird has had so many tributes 

 paid to it, both by poets and 

 prose writers, as this altogether- 

 unequalled songster. Its voice is 

 unrivalled. The Blackcap, Lark, 

 Blackbird, Thrush, and Robin, all 

 fail to approach this " Queen of 

 Song." 



Yet few who have read of the 

 wonderful power of voice that 

 belongs to the Nightingales may 

 have had the exquisite pleasure of 

 hearing one of their delicious 

 vocal contests ; for it is when, in 

 a still June night, Nightingale 

 answers to Nightingale, and all 

 the power of their combination of 

 sweet sounds is put forth, that 

 the entrancing influence of the 

 song of the Nightingale is most 

 deeply felt. Once heard, it is 

 never forgotten, be it the plaintive 

 long-drawn-out "Wheet, wheet, 

 wheet ! " or the mellow u Jug, 



