THE NIGHTINGALE 213 



This charming little bird is no milk-sop, for in the early spring 

 we may see violent combats going on between two robins. They 

 fight fiercely, and feathers fly right and left. But this is pure 

 jealousy, and generally happens when one robin comes too near the 

 nest of another, or when two males are fighting for one female. 



The robin is always a lonely bird. Most other birds live in 

 flocks during the winter, and some even all the year round. But 

 it is seldom that more than one or two robins are seen together, 

 or among the birds to which crumbs are thrown on a cold morning. 



THE NIGHTINGALE 



About the middle of April — in some years a few days earlier, 

 and in some a few days later — there comes to us from over the 

 sea one of the most famous songsters of the feathered race. This 

 is the Nightingale, a plain and unattractive little bird to the eye, 

 but one which charms all ears with its floods of liquid melody. 

 During the latter part of April and all through May it sings, and 

 one never tires of listening to its wonderful song. 



Two mistakes are very commonly made about the nightingale. 

 The first is the supposition that it sings only by night. Truly 

 we usually hear its song distinctly after nightfall; but that is 

 because the air is so much quieter at night than in the day, when 

 myriads of other birds are singing, and we notice the song more. 

 But we may hear the nightingale's song at any hour of the day 

 if we listen carefully. So incessantly does he sing, indeed, that 

 we cannot help wondering when during the twenty-four hours he 

 contrives to take any rest! 



The second mistake is to suppose that it is the hen nightingale 

 that sings. This is quite an error. The hen does not sing; so 

 of course it is the voice of the cock-bird that we hear, as is the 

 case with all other songsters. 



The cock-nightingale sings cheerily to his mate, while she sits 

 in silence, brooding over her five little olive -green eggs, and 

 thinking, no doubt, of the five little nestlings which will soon be 

 hatched out. 



