110 TREATISE ON 



sensibly blended, and the succession of tones so 

 wild and irregular, as to soar far beyond the fetters 

 of method. 



The nightingale's song is finely described by the 

 ingenious author of VHistoire des Oiseaux. He 

 says : — " The leader of the vernal chorus begins 

 with a low and timid voice, and he prepares for 

 the hymn to nature by essaying „his powers and 

 attuning his organs; by degrees, the sound opens 

 and swells — ^it bursts with loud and vivid flashes 

 — it pants and murmurs — it flows ivith smooth 

 volubility — thus pouring out the soft breathings 

 of love and joy." 



The female of this bird sings sweetly, but not 

 powerfully. Virgil and Milton have been criti- 

 cised for attributing to her this property, said to 

 belong exclusively to the other sex. In this the 

 poets were correct; but the ignorant will always 

 condemn, as absurd or as false, what their intellect 

 cannot comprehend. 



Nightingales may also be taught to articulate 

 words; and, though we may not believe all that 

 Pliny says, and even think that the Ratisbonne 

 story, mentioned by Gesner's friend, Avas perhaps 

 a dream, we shall not assert that it is impossible 

 for two of these birds to hold a conversation with 



