THE NIGHTINGALE. 85 
The Warblers are a very numerous germs, including 
Upwards of one hundred and fifty species, most of them (as 
e name may serve to intimate) distinguished for the excel- 
du °t °* t * lel1 ' muslc ‘ these, the first rank is certainly 
. I ke Nightingale. This most, famous of the feathered tribe 
Visits England in the beginning of April, and leaves it in 
august, it is found but in some of the southern parts of that 
country, being totally unknown in Scotland, Ireland, or North 
* ales. They frequent thick hedges and low coppices, and 
generally keep in the middle of the bush, so that they are 
‘mdy seen. They begin their song in the evening, and ge- 
11 e rally continue for the whole night. For weeks together, if 
undisturbed, they sit upon the same tree; and Shakespear 
rignUy describes the nightingale sitting nightly in the same 
In the beginning of May, the nightingale prepares to make 
1 s nest, which is formed of the leaves of trees, straw, and 
naoss. The nest being very eagerly sought after, is as cun- 
ningly secreted ; so that but very few of them are found by 
, e boys when they go upon these pursuits. It is built at the 
°ottom of hedges, where the hushes are thickest and best co- 
unted. While the female continues sitting, the male, at a good 
distance, but always within hearing, cheers the patient hour 
'dh his voice, and, by the short interruption of his song, often 
3,‘ves her warning of approaching danger. She lays four or 
uve eggs; of which but a part, in our cold climate, come to 
Maturity. 
. Ihe delicacy, or rather the fame, of this bird’s music, has 
n Uueed many to abridge its liberty to secure its harmony, 
ts song, however, in captivity is not so very alluring; and 
ae tyranny of taking it from those hedges where only it is 
most pleasing, still more depreciates its imprisoned efforts. 
Jesa er assures us, that it is not only the most agreeable 
s °ngster in a cage, but that it is possessed of a most admi- 
3 a ile faculty of talking. He tells the following story in 
poof of his assertion, which he says was communicated to 
11111 % a friend. “ Whilst I was at Ratisbone,” says his corres- 
pondent, “ 1 put up at an inn, the sign of the Golden Crown, 
,, \ > iei 'e my host had three nightingales. It happened at that 
« t,nae » being the spring of the year, when those birds are 
« a . Ccus tomed to sing, that I was so afflicted with the stone, 
“ * k ^ COu I ( I s I ee P but very little all night, it was usual then 
u ‘T aut midnight, to hear the two nightingales jangling, and 
<( a ' K ing with each other, and plainly imitating men’s dis- 
courses. Besides repeating the daily discourse of the 
