28 
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
occasioning no lassitude in muscle, or relaxation of 
the parts of action. In certain seasons and weather, 
the nightingale sings all day, and most part of the 
night ; and we never observe that the powers of song 
are weaker, or that the notes become harsh and un- 
tunable, after all these hours of practice. The song- 
thrush, in a mild, moist April, will commence his 
tune early in the morning, pipe unceasingly through 
the day, yet, at the close of eve, when he retires to 
rest, there is no obvious decay of his musical powers, 
or any sensible effort required to continue his har- 
mony to the last. Birds of one species sing in 
general very like each other, with different degrees 
of execution. Some countries may produce finer 
songsters, but without great variation in the notes. 
In the thrush, however, it is remarkable, that there 
seems to be no regular notes, each individual piping 
a voluntary of his own. Their voices may always 
be distinguished amid the choristers of the copse ; 
yet some one performer will more particularly engage 
attention by a peculiar modulation, or tune; and 
should several stations of these birds be visited in 
the same morning, few or none probably will be 
found to preserve the same round of notes, whatever 
