BIRDS. 
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mcr nights, when the Dipper, the Sedge-warbler, and above 
all, the Nightingale, are awake, and pouring forth rich and 
solemn melody. “ He that at midnight,” says Izaak W alton, 
“ when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hoar, as I 
have very often, the clear airs, tho sweet descants, the na- 
tural rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her 
voice, might well be lilted up above earthe, and say, Lord, 
what musicko has Thou provided for Thy saints in heaven, 
when Thou a.ffordest bad men such musieke upon earthe!” 
One might make a volume with extracts from the poets 
in honour of the Nightingale — from Homer, who fancies 
her wailing and mourning her woes, down to Coleridge, 
who considers it high treason against common sense to 
suppose there is anything melancholy in Nature. 
“We have lcaru’d 
A different lore : we may not thus profane 
Nature's sweet voices, always full of love 
And j cyan nc l Tis the merry Nightingale, 
That crowds, and hurries, and procipitates 
"With fast, thick warble bis delicious notes. 
As be wore fearful that an April night 
Would he too short for him to utter forth 
His love-chant, and disburthen Ills full soul 
Of all its music ! . . . . 
Far and near, 
in wood and thicket, over the wide grove, 
They answer and provoke each other’s songs, 
With skirmish and capricious passngings, 
And murmurs musical, and swift jug, jug; 
And one low, piping sound, more sweet than all. 
Stirring the air with such an harmony, 
That should you close your eyes, you might almost 
Forget it was not day.’ 1 
The Mocking-bird ( Orpheus polyglottus) of the Western 
World, rivals the Nightingale in the compass, mellowness, 
and brilliant execution of its song, which it also delights to 
