230 Birds. 
plentiful in the neighbourhood of London, and along 
the south coast in Sussex, Hampshire, and Dorsetshire, 
it is not found in either Cornwall or Wales. As soon as 
the young are hatched, the song of the male bird ceases, 
and he only utters a harsh croak, by way of giving 
alarm when any one approaches the nest. Nightingales 
are sometimes reared up, and doomed to the prison of a 
cage ; in this state they sing ten months in the year, 
though in their wild life they sing only as many weeks. 
Bingley says that a caged Nightingale sings much more 
sweetly than those which we hear abroad in the spring. 
The Nightingale is the most celebrated of all the 
feathered race for its song. The poets have in all ages 
made it the theme of their verses ; some of these we 
cannot resist giving : 
" The Nightingale, as soon as April bringeth 
Unto her rested sense a perfect waking, 
"Which late bare earth, proud of new clothing, springeth, 
Sings out her woes ." 
Sir Philip Sidney. 
Beast and bird, 
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests, 
Were slunk ; all but the wakeful Nightingale ; 
She all night long her amorous descant sung." 
Milton. 
" And in the violet-embroidered vale, 
Where the lovelorn Nightingale 
Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well." 
Milton. 
" O Nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray 
Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still, 
Thou with fresh hope the lovers heart dost fill, 
While the jolly hours lead on propitious May, 
Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day, 
First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill, 
Portend success in love. Oh, if Jove's will 
Have linked that amorous power to thy soft lay, 
Now timely sing, ere the rude bird of hate 
Foretell my hopeless doom in some grove nigh ; 
As thou from year to year hast sung too late 
For my relief, yet hadst no reason why : 
Whether the muse, or love, call thee his mate, 
Both them I serve, and of their train am I.'' 
Milton. 
