172 SINGING-BIRDS AND FLO WEES, ETC. 



same spot again. When on board the Sylvia among 

 the Goto Islands, I awoke one morning with a feeling 

 or idea that I had heard the nightingale. I thought 

 it was a dream, never having heard such a bird in 

 Japan. Still it was so impressed on my mind, I asked 

 the quartermaster, the man in charge of the deck 

 between twelve and four o'clock, if he had heard any 

 bird singing. " Yes, sir," he answered, " a bird com- 

 menced to sing about one o'clock, and kept on until 

 daylight." Next night I was waiting anxiously to hear 

 it myself, and sure enough, shortly after midnight, a 

 bird commenced and continued at short intervals until 

 morning broke. Afterwards I both saw it and heard 

 it during the day-time. Its notes were short, spas- 

 modic, and not melodious, so that only in a dream 

 could I possibly have mistaken it for the nightingale. 

 The only other bird I can mention, and this from 

 hearsay, is a species of warbler which I had for some 

 time in confinement. It is a handsome brown bird, as 

 large as a nightingale, and, I was told, a good singer. 

 During the time I had it, however, the bird never 

 uttered a note. Canaries, amongst other things, have 

 been introduced into the country, and retain their name. 

 They are bred and reared to a large extent, and not 

 only kept by the Japanese, but find a ready market 

 amongst foreigners. A good bird and cage used to cost 



