NIGHTINGALE. PASSERES. SYLVIA. 173 
This bird, so justly celebrated for the sweetness and ex- Periodical 
tensive power of its song, arrives in Britain towards the end Maas 
of April, or in the beginning of May. From the observa- 
tions of professed bird-catchers, it appears that the males con- 
stantly precede the females by an interval of ten days or a 
fortnight *, as none but the former are taken on their first 
appearance in the country. From this circumstance arose the 
supposition, that the number of male birds greatly exceeded 
that of the other sex. As soon as the nightingale has reach- 
ed the limit of his migration, he selects some favourable spot 
for the accomplishment of those duties pointed out by nature; 
and having there settled, commences his song of love and in- 
vitation, which is unremittingly continued till a mate is at- 
tracted by its melodious notes. As soon as this takes place, 
his unwearied efforts cease, and the song is only uttered at 
intervals, during the tedious process of incubation.—The 
haunts of this bird, during its abode in our island, are con- Haunts. 
fined to particular districts; it is plentiful in the southern and 
eastern counties, but only extends to the west as far as De- 
vonshire. Its northern boundary appears to be the neigh- 
bourhood of Doncaster in Yorkshire, as scarcely any well- 
authenticated instances are produced of its appearance be- 
yond that town. Some peculiarity as to the food most con- 
genial to it, or some hitherto undiscovered circumstance in 
its economy, must, without doubt, be the cause of the partial 
distribution, not only of this, but of other species. It can- 
not, in the present bird, be attributed entirely to climate, as 
nightingales are found in countries situated farther to the 
north than England ; being common in Sweden, and in the 
northern parts of Germany. 
It is of very shy disposition, frequenting woods rank with 
undergrowth, close thickets, thorn-brakes and hedges, and is 
seldom seen; the place of its retreat being only discovered 
from its song.—In the combined qualities of variety, richness Song. 
* TI have observed this to be also the case with respect to most of the 
summer visitants, and have invariably found it in the Willow Wren (Sy}- 
via trochilus) and Wood Wren (Sylvia sibilatrix). 
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