The Nightingale, BIRDS. The Gold Ckest. 323 
From the moment of his arrival in this country the 
male Nightingale pours forth his melody, not only 
during the day, but even in the silence and darkness 
of the night, at which period his notes strike the ear 
with more striking effect than when mixed up with 
the voices of other featliered choristers. The beauty of 
this nocturnal music has furnished a theme of admira- 
tion for poets and writers in all ages, whose descriptions 
of evening would almost seem incomplete if the Night- 
ingale did not warble from the grove ; but none of them, 
perhaps, have done more justice to his vocal powers than 
old Izaak Walton, in the following speech which he puts 
into the mouth of one of the persons in his dialogue : — 
“ The Nightingale,” says Auceps, “ another of my airy 
creatures, breathes such sweet loud music out of her 
little instrumental throat, that it might make mankind 
to think that miracles are not ceased. He that at 
midnight, when the very labourer sleeps securely, 
should hear, as I have very often, the clear airs, the 
sweet descants, the natural rising and falling, the 
doubling and redoubling of her voice, might well be 
lifted above earth, and say — Lord, what music hast 
thou provided for the saints in heaven, when thou 
aflfordest bad men such music on earth !” 
Like many other charming singers, the Nightingale is 
by no means remarkable for the beauty of its personal 
appearance. Its general colour is brown, with a red- 
dish tinge above, dull greyish-white beneath ; the beak 
and legs are brown, and the eyes, which are rather large 
and very bright, have the irides hazel. The whole 
length of the bird is about six inches and a half. The 
Nightingales arrive in this country about the middle of 
April, the males preceding their partners by a few days. 
They do not occur in the extreme western parts of 
England, nor in Ireland ; and their range to the north- 
ward extends in this country only into Yorkshire, 
although on the continent thej'' reach as far as Sweden. 
They frequent woods, plantations, and orchards, and 
feed on insects and spiders. The nest, which is com- 
posed of leaves, grass, and rushes, lined with a few 
fibrous roots, is usually placed in a hollow in the 
ground, and very loosely put together. The eggs are 
four or five in number, and of an olive-brown colour ; 
they are deposited early in May, and the young are 
liatched in June. 
THE BLACKCAP {Curruca atricapilla), another Bri- 
tish species, nearly allied to the Nightingale, is also a 
beautiful songster, scarcely, if at all infeiior to his more 
celebrated relative. This bird measures about six inches 
in length, the female being rather larger than the male ; 
the plumage of both is of an ash colour mpre or less 
tinged with brown, and the crown of the head is black 
in the male, and chestnut brown in the female. The 
Blackcap is an inhabitant of Europe, Asia, and Africa; 
it migrates into temperate climates in the spring, reach- 
ing this country about the middle of April, and departs 
southward again in September. During the summer it 
occurs in most parts of England and in some localities 
in Scotland, but is almost unknown in Ireland. Its 
habits are similar to those of the Nightingale, but it 
feeds partly upon fruits. 
THE GARDEN WARBLER or Greater Pettychaps 
{Curruca hortensis) is very nearly allied to the pre- 
ceding, and like it is a summer visitor to Britain. It 
is a good songster, emitting a wild and rapid strain, 
which is often continued for half an hour without a 
pause. Two other nearly allied species, the White- 
throat ((7. cinerea), and the Lesser Wiiitethroat 
{C. sylviella) are also common in this country. 
THE WOOD WARBLER {Sylvia sylvicola), which is 
generally distributed in England, usually makes its 
appearance in this country about the end of April, and 
takes up its abode in woods and plantations. Its food 
consists of insects and their larva;. This bird builds a 
domed nest upon the ground amongst tiie herbage, 
forming it of dry grass, leaves, and moss, and lining it 
with fine grass and hair, but with no feathers. The 
eggs are six in number, white, spotted all over with 
deep red and ash colour. 
THE WILLOW WARBLER {Sylvia Trochiltis), an- 
other British species, arrives in this country about the 
middle of April, and extends its range into Scotland. 
It is common about woods, plantations, and hedges, 
and makes its nest upon the ground much in the same 
way as the preceding species, but lines it with feathers. 
THE CHIEF CHAPE {Sylvia Hippolais) is a very early 
visitor to Britain, arriving here before any of the other 
members of this family, with the exception of the 
Wheatear. It is a very small species, and its name 
is derived from its note, which resembles the syllables 
clnff chaff, frequently repeated. In its general habits 
it resembles the preceding species. 
THE DARTFORD WARBLER {Melizaphilus Dart- 
fordiensis) has received its name from having been 
first discovered in the neighbourhood of Dartford in 
Kent. It appears to remain in Britain throughout the 
year, or at least many specimens have been observed 
here during the winter. Furze-covered commons are 
its favourite haunts; it dwells and builds its nest amongst 
the furze-bushes, the strong prickles of which make a 
formidable fence around the little dwelling. Hence it 
is called in some places the Furzeling or Furze Wren. 
Its food consists principally of small insects, which are 
generally caught in the air. 
THE GOLD CREST {Regulus cristaius), which is also 
called the Kinglet, is the most diminutive of British 
birds. It is a permanent resident in this country, and 
indeed receives a considerable accession to its numbers 
daring the winter by a migration from the more northern 
parts of Europe. It usually inhabits fir woods, where 
it may be seen exploring the twigs and branches in 
search of insects, hopping and creeping about with 
great vivacity, and associating freely, not only with its 
own species, but also with the Titmice and Creepers, 
which resemble it somewhat in mode of life. Its nest 
is cupshaped, composed of moss and lined with feathers; 
it is suspended from three or four twigs beneath the 
branch of a fir-tree so as to be sheltered from above. 
The eggs vary in number from six to ten ; and the 
female, while engaged in hatching and bringing up her 
young, is very bold, allowing the nest to be looked into, 
and even submitting to be handled without shrinking 
from her duties. The male has a soft and agreeable song. 
The length of this pretty little bird is about three inches 
and a half ; its plumage is yellowish-olive above and 
yellowish-grey beneath ; on the crown of the head it 
