ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 325 



the nightingale; which is not a bird oi flight, in 

 the sense the bird-catchers use this term. The 

 nightingale, like the robin, wren, and many 

 other singing birds, only moves from hedge to 

 hedge, and does not take the periodical ^i^A^^ 

 in October and March. The persons who catch 

 these birds, make use of small trap-nets, without 

 call-birds, and are considered as inferior in dig- 

 nity to other bird-catchers, who will not rank 

 with them. 



The nicfhtinoale being the first of singino; 

 birds, we shall here insert a few particulars re- 

 lating to it, that were transmitted to us since 

 the description of that bird was printed. 



Its arrival is expected, by the trappers in 

 the neighborhood of London^ the first week in 

 April; at the beginning none but cocks are 

 taken, but in a few days the hens make their 

 appearance, generally by themselves, though 

 sometimes a few males come along with them. 



The latter are distinguished from the females 

 not only by their superior size, but by a great 

 swelling of their vent, which commences on the 

 first arrival of the hens. 



They do not build till the middle of Mai/, 

 and generally chuse a quickset, to make their 

 nest in. - 



If the nightingale is kept in a cage, it often 



