Englilli Singing-Birds. Cj 



Of the Nightingale. 



37:?^ Description and Chara&er. 



NOtwithftanding the particular Fancy 

 of divers Perfons, for this or that 

 Bird which they efteem and prefer to all 

 others, tht Nightingale^ by the Generality 

 of Mankind, is ftill accounted the chief 

 of all finging Birds : He fends forth his 

 pleafant Notes with fo laviOi a Freedom^ 

 that he makes even the Woods to eccho 

 with his melodious Voice 5 and this de- 

 lightful Bird, fcorning to be out^done, will 

 nor ■yield to any Corapetiror, either of 

 Birds or Men ; the Wood-Lark is his great- 

 eft Antagonifr, between whom there fome^ 

 times happens fuch a Contention for Ma- 

 ft.ery, each driving to outvy the other, that, 

 like true bred Cocks, they feem refolved to 

 dye rather than loofe theViftory 5 if the 

 former carries it in Stoutnefs and Freenefs 

 of Song, fo does the hitter in his pleafing 

 Variety of fofc warbling harmoqious Notes, 

 in which, to my Fancy, none excels, or is 

 equal to hii-n* 



The Nightit7oale is not fo remarkable for 

 any Variety or Beauty of Colours, but v/ell 



K 2 known 



