THE NIGHTINGALE. 



Sylvia luscinia, Lath. 



This far-famed bird is the largest of the war- 

 bler genus, being about seven inches in length, 

 and between ten and eleven in the extent of the 

 wings. 



It is found very generally diffused throughout 

 Europe, as far north as Sweden, in the greater 

 part of Asia, and it has also been found on the 

 banks of the Nile. 



It arrives in this country the latter end of 

 April, but sometimes not till the beginning of 

 May. The females do not arrive till a week or 

 ten days after the males. There is but a very 

 slight difference between the sexes in appear- 

 ance. The female, however, is smaller, rather 

 darker on the upper and lighter on the lower 

 parts of the body ; the white on the throat is less 

 extensive, and the upper part of the head is tinged 

 with red. 



Lofty woods by clear waters, among rich mea- 

 dows and fields, where there is an exuberance of 

 vegetation, and consequently an ample store of 

 soft and smooth caterpillars, are the places for the 

 Nightingale. In these it sings its song, rears its 

 brood in the closest retirement, but with the most 

 tender and assiduous care ; and when it has accom- 



