t 302 ] 
Nightingales are very common in Denmark, Swe- 
den, and RufTia *, as alfo in every other part of 
Europe, as well as Aha, if the Arabic name is pro- 
perly tianflated. 
Now, if it is fuppofed that many of thcfe birds 
which are obferved in the fouthern parts of England, 
crofs the German fea, from the oppofite coaft of the 
continent ; why does not the fame inftindt drive thofe 
of Denmark to Scotland, where no fuch bird was 
ever feen or heard f ? 
But thefe are not all the difficulties which attend 
the hypothefis of migration; nightingales are agreed 
to be fcarcelv ever obferved to the wed ward of Dor- 
* 
fetfhire, or in the principality of Wales +, much lefs 
in Ireland. 
I have alfo been informed, that thefe birds are not 
uncommon in Worcederfhire, whereas they are ex- 
ceffively rare (if found at all) in the neighbouring 
county of Hereford. 
Whence, therefore, can it a rife, that this bird 
fhould at one time be equal to the eroding of feas, 
and at other times not travel a mile or two into an 
adjacent county ? Does it not afford, on the other 
hand, a flrong proof, that the bird really continues 
* See Dr. Birch’s Hiftory of the Royal Society, Vol. III. 
p. 189. Linnaei Fauna Suecica. and Biographia Britannica, 
art. b letcher ; where it is faid, that they have in Ruffia a 
greater variety of notes than elfewhere. 
f Sir Robert Sibbald, indeed, conceives the nightingale to be 
a bird of North Britain ; but, if I can depend upon many con- 
current teftimonies, no fuch bird is ever feen or heard fo far 
northward at prefent, nor could I ever trace them in that direc- 
tion further than Durham. 
J I have, however, frequently feen the nightingale’s con- 
gener (and fuppofed fellow-traveller) the redftart in Wales. 
on 
