124 THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
mine. I have seen many nightingales, but never 
met with one that possessed such a faculty ; but edu- 
cation may effect wonders, for we know that this bird, 
which in its wild state sings only ten or twelve weeks 
in the year, when tamed may, with care and attention, 
be induced to charm us with its harmonious notes 
for nine or ten months. But for Gesner's story, 
which, he says, was communicated to him by a 
friend := — 
Whilst I was at Ratisbon,'' says his correspond- 
ent, I put up at an inn, the sign of the Golden 
Crown, where my host had three Nightingales . What 
I am going to repeat is wonderful — almost incredible 
— and yet it is true. The Nightingales were placed 
separately, so that each was shut up by itself in a dark 
cage. It happened at that time, being the spring 
of the year, when those birds are used to sing inde- 
fatigably, that I was so afflicted with the stone 
that I could sleep but very little all night. It was 
usual, then, about midnight, when there was no 
noise in the house, but all still, to hear the two night- 
ingales jangling with each other, and plainly imi- 
tating men's discourse. For my part, I was almost 
astonished with wonder,Tor at this time, when all was 
