THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
127 
my ears, uttering such things as I have related. 
Neither yet can I, of a sudden, write all, or call to 
remembrance every particular that I have heard.'' 
In Dr. Bechstein's admirable work on cage birds, 
he says — Independent of these talents, the nightin- 
gale possesses a quality very likely to augment the 
number of his friends ; he is capable, after some time, 
of forming attachments. When once he has made 
acquaintance with the person who takes care of him, 
he distinguishes his step before seeing him, he wel- 
comes him by a cry of joy, and during the moulting 
season he is seen making vain efforts to sing, and 
supplying by the gaiety of his movements, and the 
expression of his looks, the demonstrations of joy 
which his throat refuses to utter. When he loses 
his benefactor, he sometimes pines to death ; if he 
survives, it is long before he is accustomed to ano- 
ther.* His attachments are long, because they are 
* *' A nightingale v^hich I had given away," says M. Le 
Manie, " no longer seeing his mistress, left off eating, and 
was soon reduced to the last gasp : he could not support 
himself on his perch ; but, being restored to his mistress, he 
revived, ate, drank, perched, and had recovered in twenty- 
four hours. It is said that some have been known, when set 
