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BLYTH ON THE NIGHTINGALE. 



admired, is that which is commonly called by them ' ■ sweet-jug," from 

 a fancied resemblance in the sound. It is a note that he frequently utters, 

 and may be tolerably expressed thus, huep, huip, huipp, haeep, hueep, 

 hueep, hueep, chuck, chuck, chuck; the former part to be pronounced very 

 slowly, in a kind of half whisper, half whistle ; the latter part, " chuck," 

 is repeated about a dozen times, and so quick and distinct as to set all 

 imitation at defiance : sometimes instead of chuck it is terminated by a 

 kind of roll, resembling tottle-tottle-tottle; this sudden transition from 

 high to very deep notes has an extremely pleasing effect. Other 

 remarkably fine notes have been likened to the words water-bubble whit- 

 low, &c. This mode of illustrating the song of a bird may perhaps at 

 first sight appear unnecessary, but it is the only method in which a just 

 idea can be given ; and if by this description the bird should be imme- 

 diately recognised by those who had not before heard it, as I conceive it 

 would, the object is, of course, accomplished. 



When the nightingale is singing, concealed in a bush, he will not 

 suffer himself to be approached too near, and though he does not imme- 

 diately fly he ceases to sing, and signifies his displeasure by a peculiar 

 croak — resembling the word curre, pronounced with a rolling of the r's, 

 — and if, upon his repeating this three or four times, the intruder should 

 not retire, he flies to another bush ; yet if he be approached very gently 

 so that he should not be frightened, he will sometimes show himself 

 and sing within a couple of yards of the spectator, when the wonderful 

 distension of his throat will be very obvious, and when it is impossible 

 not to admire the lightness and elegance of his form, and the amazing 

 long hops he frequently takes from bough to bough. 



After the young are hatched, should any person approach their nest, 

 the parent nightingales are extremely clamorous, uttering a loud and 

 very plaintive monotonous cry, (resembling hiveep,) and repeating at 

 intervals their usual croak, so well known in places where nightingales 

 abound. The nest is, however, most exceedingly difficult to discover ; 

 the colour of the eggs and also of the young birds being exactly that of 

 the ground, or rather of the decayed leaves among which, under covert 

 of a thick bush, the nest is usually concealed. 



It appears from the experiments of Montagu, that if the hen night- 

 ingale be taken from her nest, the male will resume his song, and con- 

 tinue to sing till very late in the summer, or until his notes have 

 attracted another mate. From this, therefore, it would seem, that the 

 reason the nightingale ceases his song at Midsummer, is, that his 

 whole time is then occupied in procuring food for his young family ; 



