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Scientific Intelligence . 
very nearly a right angle, I fancy the wind blowing from dif- 
ferent points of the compass, might be the cause of the bird’s 
choosing those different parts of the hedge for its nightly sta- 
tion, in order that the sound of its voice might be borne by the 
gentle breeze, to the hen-bird during the time of incubation. 
I did not find the nest in the thicket, being unwilling to dis- 
turb so rare a visitant ; indeed it would not perhaps have been 
easily practicable, as the place in the thickest part is not very 
accessible, overhanging an old stone-quarry. I frequently ob- 
served the nightingale in the day time perched in the thicket, 
and also noticed that it often carried thither insects, &c. most 
probably for the support of the female during her confinement ; 
as the male-bird does not sit on the eggs at all. One fine evening, 
just after-sunset, I approached near the thicket as silently as pos- 
sible, and, standing under the shade of a Syringa bush, I began 
to play upon a flute very softly the beautiful air by Pleyel, known 
by the name of the “ German Hymn and at the same time 
a pupil of mine stood in such a situation as to have a pretty dis- 
tinct view of the thicket. I had scarcely got through the air, 
when the nightingale was heard to chirp, and, during the second 
time of my playing it, my young friend saw it hop through the 
bushes with great celerity towards the place where I stood, at 
the same time making a sort of sub- warbling, which it soon 
changed into its usual melodious and lengthened song ; but, on 
my companion’s speaking to me, it immediately heard, and most 
probably observed him, as he immediately saw it fly to the 
hedge in which it was wont to sing. I regret much it was dis- 
turbed, as I have no doubt but the sound of the flute had at 
that time excited it to sing, as it was never known to do so there , 
either before or after that time. (it is said, and I believe 
truly, that the nightingale never sings very near its nest.) Both 
the places in the hedge in which it sung were about 110 to 120 
yards from the thicket, and from 40 to 50 from my door. A 
goldfinch (Fringilla carduelis,) which had been taught seve- 
ral peculiar notes, was two or three times hung up in a cage in 
the thicket ; it was singular and amusing to hear the night- 
ingale endeavour to imitate the goldfinch, which it would some- 
times do, mixing with its imitations its native notes. I could 
never observe that it approached the cage, as other small birds 
