THE NIGHTINGAI-E. 259 



The most consummate musician might listen with delight to 

 its song, whatever might be his peculiar taste, as it can at 

 one moment thrill the heart with joy and at another melt it 

 to sober sadness, by the laughing and sighing modulations 

 which follow each other in rapid succession through the 

 melody, which is seldom interrupted by a pause. As if 

 conscious of its unrivalled powers, it does not join the some- 

 times discordant concert of the other songsters, but waits on 

 some solitary twig till the blackbird and thrush have uttered 

 their evening call, till the stock and ring doves have lulled 

 each other to rest, and then it displays at full its melodious 

 fancies." The following is an attempt made by a well-known 

 naturalist to reduce the song to writing: 



"Tiuu tiuu tiuu tiuu — Spe tiuu zqua — Tio tio titS tio tio tio 

 tio tix — Qutio qutio qutio qutio — Zquo zquo zquo zquo — 

 Tztt tzii tzii tzu tzfl tzG tzii tzii tztt tzi — Quorror tiu zqua 

 pipiquisi — Zozozozozozozozozozozozo zirrhading! ' &c. &c. 



Quaint old Izaac Walton says : " But the nightingale, another 

 of my airy creatures, breathes such sweet, loud music out of 

 her instrumental throat, that it might make mankind to think 

 that miracles are not ceased. He that at midnight, when the 

 very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have very 

 often, the clear airs, the sweet descents, the natural rising 

 and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her voice, might 

 well be lifted above earth, and say, 'Lord, what music hast 

 thou provided for the saints in Heaven, when thou affordest 

 bad men such music on earth!'" 

 The Bobta The Robin Redbreast is a prime favourite in 

 Redbreast. English cottage homes. Its appearance on the 

 window sill at the approach of winter is an irresistible appeal 

 to human sympathy and seldom fails of a hearty response. 

 Captain Brown mentions a robin which, during a severe storm, 

 came to the window of the room where his father sat, upon 

 which his father opened the window, to give it some crumbs. 

 "Instead of flying away, the robin hopped into the room. 



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