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Nightingales are very common in Denmark, Swe- 

 den, and Ruffia *, as alfo in every other part of 

 Europe, as well as Afia, if the Arabic name is pro- 

 perly tranflated. 



Now, if it is fuppofed that many of thefe birds 

 which are obferved in the fouthern parts of England, 

 crofs the German fea, from the oppofite coaft of the 

 continent j why does not the fame inftincl: drive thofe 

 of Denmark to Scotland, where no fuch bird was 

 ever feen or heard f ? 



But thefe are not all the difficulties which attend 

 the hypothec's of migration j nightingales are agreed 

 to be fcarcely ever obferved to the weftward of Dor- 

 fetfhire, or in the principality of Wales J, much lefs 

 in Ireland. 



I have alfo been informed, that thefe birds are not 

 uncommon in Worcefterfhire, whereas they are ex- 

 ceffively rare (if found at all) in the neighbouring 

 county of Hereford. 



Whence, therefore, can it arife, that this bird 

 mould at one time be equal to the croffing of feas, 

 and at other times not travel a mile or two into an 

 adjacent county ? Does it not afford, on the other 

 hand, a ftrong proof, that the bird really continues 



* See Dr. Birch's Hiftory of the Royal Society, Vol. III. 

 p. 189. Linnaei Fauna Suecica. and Biographia Britannica, 

 art. Fletcher.; where it is faid, that they have in Ruffia a 

 greater variety of notes than elfewhere. 



f Sir Robert Sibbald, indeed, conceives the nightingale to be 

 a bird of North Britain ; but, if I can depend upon many con- 

 current teftimonies, no fuch bird is ever feen or heard fo far 

 northward at prefent, nor could I ever trace them in that direc- 

 tion further than Durham. 



% I have, however, frequently feen the nightingale's con- 

 gener (and fuppofed fellow-traveller) the redftart in Wales. 



on 



