The Nightingale. 



263 



dirt. The legs, feet, and claws, should be without blemish 

 or deformity. The bird should be affable and sprightly in 

 manner, thoroughly domesticated, and accustomed to strangers. 



General Remarks. — There is a striking resemblance between 

 the female Redstart and the male Nightingale, and bird dealers 

 not unfrequently impose upon those who are ignorant of this 

 fact, by selling birds of the former species for the latter. There 

 are, however, characteristic distinctions between them. The 

 female Redstart is smaller than the Nightingale, and the 

 colour of its plumage is altogether darker ; the bill and feet, 

 also, are black, whereas in a Nightingale the upper mandible is 

 dark brown, the under one much lighter, and greyer in colour, 

 and flesh coloured at the base ; the legs and feet, too, are of a 

 dingy greyish brown flesh colour. The tail of the female 

 Redstart is paler in colour than that of the Nightingale, and 

 in the centre of it are two blackish brown feathers, whilst 

 the tail of a Nightingale is deep russet brown, inclining to be 

 red all through. Again, the tail of the Redstart is more slender 

 than that of the Nightingale, and is kept in almost continuous 

 motion ; whereas the latter bird only moves his when in the act 

 of hopping about, and tben almost invariably carries it above the 

 tips of his wings. In addition to these distinctive marks, the 

 gait and manner of the Nightingale are more aristocratic, and 

 his bearing is one denoting self-importance. The Nightingale 

 moves rapidly from percb to perch, and, after a series of hop- 

 pings, stops for a moment, flaps his wings, elevates his tail, 

 partly opening it like a fan, nods his head two or three times, 

 and then starts off on another hopping excursion ; and if any- 

 thing particular attracts his attention, he looks at it with only 

 one eye, turning his head into a position for this purpose ; 

 this is a peculiarity which is not found in a Redstart. 



Young birds taken from the first nest make the best singers, 

 but should be kept apart from other birds, as they readily 

 acquire their notes, and rarely sing their natural song after- 

 wards. There is a marked difference between individual 

 specimens of Nightingales, as in other birds, some being 

 greatly superior to others in the variety and melody of their 

 song. When practicable, young birds should be placed under 

 a competent instructor ; an old bird, who sings with freedom 

 and vigour his wild, woodland notes, is to be preferred before 

 all others. 



