THE NIGHTINGALE WARBLER. 381 



cover is in foliage all the time that it remains, it is not very 

 often seen, even by those who search for it. Its notes are 

 perhaps the softest of any that have equal volume and com- 

 pass; they want that clear silvery tone which pierces the 

 ear so much in the song of the nightingale; but they are 

 exquisite flute notes; and the whistling part of the stave, 

 which is almost as full and mellow as that of the blackbird, 

 has an unbroken swell, which is at once characteristic and 

 peculiar. 



Its nest is formed in the same manner, and nearly of the 

 same materials, as that of the black-cap; but it builds more 

 exclusively on the ground, though it always chooses a cover 

 of close herbage. The eggs are about the same in number 

 as those of the black-cap, but they are easily distinguished 

 by their colour: they are pale yellowish-brown, with dull 

 brown blotches, rather crowded at the larger end, and obscure 

 over the rest of the surface. 



The birds inhabit even closer^ to houses than the black- 

 caps, though they do it more stealthily. The nests are some- 

 times found in gardens; and in these cases the birds beat for 

 food in the hedges, and the male sings from them. Like the 

 others, they can subsist upon succulent vegetable food, and 

 they plunder the berries when insects cease to be plentiful. 

 They retire from Britain in September; and it does not 

 appear that any of them remain during winter, or if they do, 

 they pass their time in solitude and silence, unseen and 

 unheard ; indeed, they are not much seen at any time, unless 

 come upon by accident, or that the observer remains close 

 while they are singing. 



THE NIGHTINGALE WARBLER (GuTTUCa luSCinia). 



The nightingale is the most celebrated of all the warblers, 

 but it is the one of which it is necessary to say the least ; 



