ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 



367 



The next point of superiority in a nightingale 

 is its continuance of song, without a pause, 

 which 1 have observed sometimes not to be less 

 than twenty seconds. Whenever respiration, 

 however, became necessary, it was taken Avith 

 as much judgment as by an opera singer. 



The skylark again, in this particular, is onlj 

 second to the nightingale. * 



* I shall here insert a table, by which the comparative merit 

 of the British singing birds may be examined, the idea of which 

 I have borrowed from Mons. de Piles, in his Cours de Peintiire 

 par Principes. I shall not be surprized, however, if, as he sug- 

 gests, many may disagree with me about particular birds, as he 

 supposes they willdo with him, concerning the merits of painters. 



As I have five columns instead of the four which M. de Piles 

 uses, I make 20 the point of absolute perfection, instead of l6, 

 which is his standard. 



JNightingale - - - - 

 Skylark - - . - - 

 Woodlark . - - - 



Titlark 



Linnet - - - - - 

 Goldfinch - - - - 

 Chaffinch - - - - 

 Greenfinch - - - - 

 Hedge-sparrow - - - 

 Aberdavine (or SisTsin) 

 Redpoll ----- 



Thrush 



Blackbird _ - - . 

 Robin ---_.. 

 Wren ------ 



Reed-sparrow - - . 



Black-cap, or the Norfolk 



Mock nightingalef 



Mellow- 



Spright- 



Plaintive 



Com- 



ness of 



ly notes. 



notes. 



pass. 



tone. 









10 



14 



19 



19 



4 



19 



4 



18 



18 



4 



17 



12 



12 



12 



12 



12 



12 



16 



12 



16 



4 



19 



4 



12 



4 



12 



4 



8 



4 



4 



4 



4 



6 , 







6 



4 



2 



4 







4 



O 



4 







4 



4 



4 



4 



4 ; 



4 



4 1 







2 



6 



1<3 ' 



12 



12 







12 







4 







4 







o 



14 



12 



12 



14 



Execu- 

 tion. 



19 



18 



8 



12 



18 



12 



8 



6 



4 



4 



4 



4 



o 



12 



4 



14 



t B;j<. Zcoi.i. p. 476. 



