77 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



This bird, so long, so justly, and so 

 universally celebrated for the superior me- 

 lody of its notes, which surpass those of 

 every other bird, visits this country in the 

 beginning of May (if the weather be fa- 

 vourable sometimes sooner), and after stay- 

 ing the Summer, takes its departure in 

 August, or early in September, for a. warmer 

 climate, though the place of its Winter re- 

 sidence is not yet known with certainty. 



In shape the nightingale is somewhat 

 slender; it is in length about six inches 

 and a half; its plumage is of a rusty brown, 

 tinged with olive above, and of a pale ash 

 colour underneath, being nearly the same 

 in male and female ; in size, however, the 

 latter exceeds the former. When young, 

 the cock may be distinguished from the 

 hen by their getting upon the perch when 

 they have done eating, and beginning to 



