aOO BRITISH BIRDS. 
ties of Devonfliire and Cornwall : It leaves u$ 
fome time in the month of Auguft, and makes its 
regular return the beginning of April ; it is fup- 
pofed, during that interval, to vifit the diftant re- 
gions of Afia ; this is probable, as they do not win- 
ter in any part of France, Germany, Italy, Greece, 
See. neither does it appear that they flay in Africa, 
but are feen at all times in India, Perfia, China, 
and Japan ; in the latter place they are much e- 
fteemed for their fong, and fell at great prices. 
They are fpread generally throughout Europe, e- 
ven as far north as Siberia and Sweden, where 
they are faid to fing delightfully ; they, however, 
are partial to particular places, and avoid others 
which feem as likely to afford them the necelfary 
means of fupport. It is not improbable, however, 
that, by planting a colony in a well-chofen fitua- 
tion, thefe delightful fongllers might be induced to 
haunt places where they are not at prefent feen ; 
the experiment might be eafily tried, and, Ihould 
it fucceed, the reward would be great in the rich 
and varied fong of this unrivalled bird. The fol- 
lowing animated defeription of it is taken from the 
Ingenious author of the Hiftoire des Oifeaux 
a The leader of the vernal chorus begins with a 
4< low and timid voices and he prepares for the 
a hymn to nature by eifaying his powers and at- 
66 tuning his organs ; by degrees the found opens 
u and fwells, it burfts with loud and vivid flafhes, 
^ it flows with finooth volubility, it faints and mur- 
