238 
MIGRATION OF NIGHTINGALES. 
part of the Cathedral, when, after warbling a few notes for 
a short time, it flew to another particular spot, and from 
thence to a third, generally terminating its course by alight- 
ing on the pavement in search of small particles of food. 
Hopes were entertained that it might repeat its visits in the 
following winter, hut its return was looked for in vain, 
having most likely met with its death in the course of the 
summer. 
The migration of Nightingales is attended with some 
peculiarities deserving attention. In some parts of England 
they are to he heard in every hedge-row, filling the air, 
particularly at night, when most of our other warblers are 
silent, with their rich melody ; while in other parts, to all 
appearance as well suited to their habits, not one was ever 
known to he heard ; this comparative rarity or abundance 
not unfrequently occurring in spots only a few miles apart. 
It might he supposed that the warmest parts of the kingdom 
were best adapted to their habits ; if so, why are they not 
to he found in the southern parts of Devonshire and Corn- 
wall, where, we believe, they are never heard ? As a general 
rule, it has been said, that they are not to he met with north 
of the Trent ; hut this is not strictly correct ; as in the 
northern parts of Yorkshire, as far as Wetherby, they are at 
least occasional visitors. 
If they are limited to certain districts by the nature of 
their favourite food, it might he interesting to discover what 
this precise food is, so capriciously and unaccountably con- 
fined to certain spots. We have alluded more than once to 
the regular return of birds to the same nests and places of 
their birth ; and it might be supposed that this would solve 
the mystery, the Nightingales naturally returning only to 
those spots where, for time out of mind, a train of ancestors 
might have built before them ; but this is not borne out 
by facts : for a gentleman who was very desirous of intro- 
ducing these birds on his estate in a northern part of the 
kingdom, commissioned a person in London to purchase as 
many Nightingales’ eggs as he could procure at a shilling 
each. This was done accordingly; they were carefully packed 
