THE NIGHTINGALE. 61 



powers and attuning his organs ; by degrees the sound opens 

 and swells, it bursts with loud and vivid flashes, it flows with 

 volubility, it faints and murmurs, it shakes with rapid and vio- 

 lent articulations ; the soft breathings of love and joy are poured 

 from his inmost soul, and every heart beats in unison and melts 

 with delicious languor. But this continued richness might 

 satiate the ear. The strains are at times relieved by pauses 

 which bestow dignity and elevation. The mild silence of even- 

 ing heightens the general effect ; and not a rival interrupts the 

 solemn scene." 



Nothing can be added to this animated description of the 

 nightingale's song. It is however much to be lamented, that 

 the delightfulness or the fame of its music has too often been an 

 inducement to abridge the musician of its liberty, in order to se- 

 cure the enjoyment of its harmony. To estimate the absurdity 

 and inhumanity of this procedure, we shall refer to the reflec- 

 tions just made on the subject of the lark, and which may with 

 equal propriety be applied to all similar cases. In regard to the 

 nightingale, its song in a state of captivity is far less fascinating 

 than when it is in perfect freedom, and is destitute of those nice 

 and varied modulations by which it is distinguished when poured 

 out from the grove. The organs of this, as well as of all other 

 songsters of the forests and the fields, are 



"Too delicately formed 



To brook the harsh confinement of the cage." 



Perhaps it is a fortunate circumstance for Philomel, that its 

 external beauty does not correspond with the sweetness of its 

 music, and that it charms the most when unseen. Possessing in 

 so eminent a degree the powers of melody, it has no need of 

 the brilliant plumage of the pheasant, the bird of paradise, or 

 the humming-bird, to render it more captivating ; and perhaps 

 such additional attractions would subject it still more to the 

 tyranny of man. 



Its head and back are of a pale tawny colour, dashed with 

 olive ; the throat, breast, and upper part of the belly, are of a 

 light glossy ash colour, and the lower part of the belly is almost 

 white. The outside webs of the quills are of a reddish brown ; 

 the tail is of a deep tawny red, and the eyes are remarkably 

 large and animated. 



This most famous of the feathered tribe visits England in the 

 beginning of April, and leaves it in the beginning of August. 

 It is found in some of the southern parts of that island, but is 

 totally unknown in Scotland, Ireland, and North Wales. It 

 frequents thick hedges and low coppices, and generally lurks in 

 the middle of the bush, so that it is rarely seen. The night 

 7 F 



