OF THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 337 



and fometimes flies over the field where the nets are 

 laid : the bird catchers have often a call bird to en- 

 fnare it, though molt of them can imitate the call 

 with their mouths. It is remarkable with regard to 

 this bird, that the female anfwers the purpofe of a 

 call-bird as well as the male, which is not experienced 

 in any other bird taken by the London bird-catchers. 



It may perhaps furprize, that under this article 

 of flinging birds, we have not mentioned the nightingale* 

 which is not a bird of flight, in the fenfe the bird- 

 catchers ufe this term ; though it certainly is a bird of 

 pajfage. The nightingale, like the robin, wren, and 

 many other fmging-birds, only moves from hedge to 

 hedge, and does not take the periodical flights in 

 ■OUober and March, It is indeed much doubted, 

 whether, during thofe months, it is to be found in this 

 iOand. The perfons who take thefe birds, make ufe 

 of fmall trap-nets, without call- birds., and are con- 

 sidered as inferior in dignity to our bird-catchers, 

 who will not rank with them. 



The nightingale being the firft of finging birds., 

 we fhall here infert a few particulars relating to it, 

 that were tranfmitted to us fince the defcription of that 

 •bird was printed. 



Its arrival is expected by the trappers in the 

 neighborhood of London, the firft week in April ; at 

 tthe beginning none but cocks are taken, but in a few 

 >days the hens make their appearance, generally by 

 themfelves, though fometimes a few males come 

 along with them. 



The latter are diflinguifhed from the females not 

 'Only by their fuperior fize, but by a great fwelling of 



Y 4 their 



