BLYTH ON THE NIGHTINGALE 



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shy of being seen, and is usually concealed in the thickest part 

 of a bush, or small tree, where, as soon as he has fixed his abode, he 

 sings almost incessantly until his notes have attracted a mate ; after 

 which he is not quite so much heard, though he continues to sing until 

 the young are hatched, when his song ceases for the season. It is well 

 worthy of remark, that caged nightingales, also, cease to sing at 

 precisely the same time with the wild birds, being seldom if ever heard 

 after the first week in June. 



The characteristic trait of the nightingale's song consists in his very 

 superior powers of execution ; he has an infinite variety of the most 

 beautiful and complex rolls and quavers, all of which are delivered with 

 a perspicuity and richness of tone peculiar to himself. The best 

 description, however, would convey but an inadequate idea of the musical 

 powers of the nightingale ; he must be heard to be duly appreciated. 

 His song is generally wild and unconnected, like that of the thrush ; 

 but when he joins his notes a little, as he sometimes though rarely does, 

 nothing can be conceived more exquisite. His habit also of singing 

 during the calm stillness of the night, when almost without a com- 

 petitor, adds considerably to the effect. To hear him however in per- 

 fection we should ramble along the margin of a wood on a fine spring 

 morning ; when, after a passing shower, the sun bursts forth in all his 

 splendour, and nature smiles in all her vernal loveliness; when drops 

 of water glisten through the opening leaves, and every breeze wafts 

 fragrance : then it is the feathered choristers are heard in all their 

 melody ; the thrilling music of the thrush ; the deep-toned mellow warble 

 of the blackbird ; the whistling of the willow-wren and blackcap, loud 

 and clear ; the charming, ever-varied song of the little garden warbler, 

 rising and falling in softest, sweetest cadences on the enraptured sense ; 

 with the joint chorus of a thousand little throats each striving to excel 

 the rest in harmony ; while the murmuring of the turtles, and the plea- 

 sing call of the cuckoo serve to furnish variety, and to give an exquisite 

 finish to the whole, — then it is the nightingale is heard to advan- 

 tage ; high over all the rest he makes the woods re-echo to his song 

 of joy. 



The nightingale may easily be distinguished from all other British 

 songsters by the wonderfully clear and distinct manner in which he 

 executes an endless variety of most complicated and inimitable shakes 

 and quavers. His song indeed is quite unlike that of any other British 

 bird, and many of his most frequently repeated notes are known to the 

 London dealers by particular names. Thus, one that is universalis 



