LUSCINIA PHILOMELA. 
Nig’hting*ale» 
Motacilla luscinia, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 88. 
Sylvia luscinia. Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 506. 
Oitrnica luscinia, Koch, Baier. Zooh, tom. i. p. 154. 
Philomela luscinia, Selb. 111. Brit. Orn., vol. i. p. 206. 
Luscinia philomela, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Araer., p. 15. 
Lusciola luscinia. Keys. & Bias. Wirbelth. Eur., p. 58. 
At certain periods of the year the Nightingale may be found in North Africa, Palestine, Asia Minor, and 
Persia, but not in India or the Pliinalayas as has been stated. On the continent of Europe it is a summer 
visitant to Spain, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, the Crimea, France, Switzerland, Germany, Southern Russia, and 
Sweden. Of the British Islands its visits are principally confined to England, and are even restricted 
to particular portions of the country. Thus it is never found in Cornwall, seldom in Devonshire, and 
scareely ever to the northward of Yorkshire or Lancashire ; its favourite counties are Kent, Middlesex, 
Sussex, and Surrey, while those of Wilts, Berks, Bucks, and Essex are hut little less resorted to by it. Its 
immigration to this country is for the purpose of reproduction. 
“ It is a commonly received opinion,” says Mr. Edward Romilly in a note to me, “ that there are no 
Nightingales in Wales. An exception should, however, he made for a district of Glamorganshire, lying on 
the Bristol Channel, between Cardiff and Fonmore Castle, which is about eight miles (as the crow flies) west 
of Cardiff. Nightingales abound in the woods of M^envoe Castle, Porthkerry, and, I believe. Court yr ala, 
and are heard there every spring. Whether they are found north of the Cardiff and Cowbridge Road I am 
unable to ascertain. In the spring of 1855 a male, which had been shot at Porthkerry, was sent to Mr. 
Yarrell by Captain Boteler of Llandough Castle ; and another, shot the same year, is in my possession. In the 
very cold spring of the present year (1859) Nightingales were heard singing on each side of my house at 
Porthkerry, and in many other places in the neighbouring woods ; and they are constant visitors there every 
year.” 
In England the Nightingale is associated with the violet, the cowslip, the daffodil, and a few more 
of those eharming gifts of Flora which bedeck the children’s May-Day garlands at the joyous season of spring, 
■ — the bird and tlie flowers being held in remembrance through life, whether its span he a short or a loim- 
one, or whether it he passed in a crowded city or a country village. 
Every one knows the buoyant flight of the Swallow £^nd the monotonous voice of the Cuckoo ; hut compara- 
tively few of those who are acquainted with the joyous song of the Nightingale, have any idea of its 
appearance, which is doubtless due to its being so seldom seen. The accompanying illustration will 
show that, although devoid of any fine or gaudy eolouring, its tints are rich and harmonious; and its 
form is especially elegant, all the various parts of its structure being equally well proportioned. 
A day or two before or after the I5th of April, the presence of this minstrel is made known by 
its song. Its arrival has no more been seen or heard than if it had dropped from the clouds. 
It has crossed the Channel in the night, and taken up its position in some dell, shrubbery, 
garden, or hedgerow, — the pair which bred and reared their young the previous year generally resort- 
ing to the identical spot they formerly frequented, there to repeat the pleasures of the past by con- 
structing a new nest and rearing another brood. The males, preceding the females a few days, chant 
their best; and the glen, coppice, and shrubbery now resound with their defiant songs, each bird impulsively 
pouring out its soul and expending its strength in wonderful cadences. Inspired by they know not what, 
their whole nature is changed; and the birds which a few weeks before were shy and recluse are now bold, 
fearless, and heedless of the passer-by or the inquisitive prying of man. Without exception the Nightingale 
is the finest of our songsters ; but to appreciate the quality of its lower notes and rich cadences, they require 
to be studied in close ])roximity. Although the air vibrates with its trills both by day and by night, it is in 
the latter that they are most striking. For it is not when the sun is in the heavens, when the thrush 
disputes for mastery in vocal power with this and other birds — it is not when the air is filled with the hum of 
thousands of insects, or the sheep-bell is heard tinkling in the meadow — it is not when the wind whistles 
through the grove, or the asjien rustles over head that the Nightingale is heard in perfection ; no, it is when all 
nature is wrapped in slumber, when probably no other sound falls upon the ear than the dissonant crake of the 
landrail, breaking the stillness of night. The mother who hears it while watching her sleepless child in the sick 
chamber, and the old man who is passing away, are both induced to think reverently of the Author of nature, and 
