100 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



and all his amiabilities recorded, what a 

 space would they not occupy ! 



We have already glanced at those ill- 

 starred spots where this prince of songsters 

 does not pay his annual visit. We will 

 mention, anon, those localities which are 

 regularly blessed with his lovely presence 

 from year to year. 



It is quite clear, that this bird loves re- 

 tirement as well as sociability. Safely 

 hidden under the lowly branches of an 

 evergreen, or buried in the recesses of a 

 copse, he feels himself secure from harm ; 

 and thus encamped he sings freely and hap- 

 pily both by day and by night. It is when 

 thus located, that he makes the acquaintance 

 of his tender-hearted hosts, who hail his ad- 

 vent with listening ears and a joyful heart; 

 and in the precincts of their grounds he 

 takes up his abode, seldom wandering 

 beyond prescribed limits. The same bird, 

 as we have elsewhere noted, returns to his 

 former haunt regularly every year — pro- 

 vided he has not been molested, and provided 

 he has not been deprived of his offspring. 

 Such an offence contra bonos mores would 

 banish him for ever. 



Surrey, Kent, and Middlesex, are the 

 counties most favored by the nightingale, — 

 perhaps because they find therein an abun- 

 dant supply of everything they delight in. 

 Woods, gx*oves, brakes, shrubberies, copses, 

 and thickets, wherein abound all varieties 

 of insect life; these, with gliding streams, 

 running brooks, and flowing springs, make 

 up their little heaven of happiness. They 

 visit, in addition, Berks, Sussex., Essex, 

 'Cambridgeshire, Herts, and other neigh- 

 boring counties. Hampshire is the very 

 god of their idolatry. In the Isle of Wight, 

 for instance, we have seen, even in the first 

 week of April, some scores of nightingales ; 

 -and so tame ! To look at each little happy 

 rogue as he sat beneath a branch, shivering 

 wwith song, you would think that — 



" From every feather in his frame 

 He poured the notes ■ " 



Arid yet, he is said to be a " melancholy 

 bird ! " This vulgar error must now be ex- 

 ploded. It is unworthy of the year 1852 : 



" Therefore be merry, Philomel, 



For thy solicitor shall rather die 

 Than give thy cause away." 



There can be no doubt that our very 

 changeable climate offers serious cause of 

 offence to this king of birds. Our mornings 

 are chilly, our days in summer (when we 

 have any) are oppressively sultry, and our 

 nights are decidedly cold. What a contrast 

 is presented in France ! We had occasion 



worn out! They will admit of no new dis- 

 coveries ! 



to visit Paris in 1849, just at the season 

 when nightingales here were becoming silent. 

 The treat in store for us on our arrival was 

 beyond description great. Not only did 

 these birds frequent the gardens of the 

 Tuileries by day and by night, and every 

 other quarter where green trees could be seen 

 (Versailles in particular was a highly - 

 favored locality for them) — but the inhabi- 

 tants of the " gay city " had them suspended 

 in appropriate cages in nearly all parts of 

 the town. The Parisians in fact —let us 

 record it to their perpetual praise — seemed 

 nightingale-mad. 



Strange, too, was it that these birds, with 

 us so shy, sang abroad, even in the day time, 

 with the boldest front — causing the very 

 streets to echo to their voice. At night 

 also, when the noise of passing vehicles was 

 all but deafening, then did these charmers 

 cause their melodious notes to be heard high 

 above all ! Our friend, who accompanied 

 us as compagnon de voyage, speedily made 

 up his mind that we were a veritable lunatic, 

 and often repaired to his hotel in despair, — 

 leaving us to parade the public thorough- 

 fares, " with ear attent," till long after 

 midnight. 



The very delightful climate of France fully 

 accounts for this excellence in the nightin- 

 gale. The atmosphere is always clear ; the 

 inhabitants burn wood fires ; and the heavy 

 smoke so peculiar to England, is there un- 

 known. Every other song bird, we should 

 observe, excelled in like degree, to our great 

 astonishment. Their notes were far more 

 perfect ; their song far more joyous ; their 

 plumage far more trim and showy — thus 

 making it indisputably clear, that for birds 

 to be healthy and well, their lungs must 

 have free play, and they must live in a pure 

 atmosphere. Indeed we ourself experienced 

 an immediate and most salutary benefit from 

 the genial change of climate. 



All this may, and indeed does, fully 

 account for the nightingale being so par- 

 ticular in absenting himself from certain 

 localities in England, It is beyond all 

 question, that their instinct acts as an uner- 

 ring guide to them in their selection of a 

 place adapted for their constitution, and the 

 well-being of their young families ; and we* 

 cannot but admire the benignant hand of 

 Nature so observable in all her works. 

 The time for emigrating is early in Sep- 

 tember. If that month be unusually fine, 

 and there is little wind, they occasionally 

 tarry till the first week in October. After 

 this, they are no more seen. It is at this 

 season that the " agitation " commences* 

 with the caged-birds left behind ; of which, 

 as promised, more hereafter. 



We would here remark, that several ob • 

 servant correspondents anxiously ask us — 



