n6 THE NATURAL HISTORY. 
melody, are varied, and though different, as plea- 
img as the former. 
One reafon perhaps that the fong of the Night¬ 
ingale produces fo wodderful an effect, may be, 
that it fings in the night, when its warbling is 
uninterrupted by other founds. 
Nightingales begin to fing early in April, and 
feldom fing after June ; their fong is fufpended 
by the attentions they are obliged to give to their 
young. 
In confinement the Nightingale fings nine 
months in a year; and the fong is ftill more 
perfect than that of Nightingales in their natural 
ffate. They will fometimes fing in a few hours 
after they are taken, generally in feven or 
eight days; not that they are regardlefs of the 
lofsof their liberty, for at firll they are fullen, and 
refufe to cat, and would die of hunger if food 
were not put into their beaks, or kill themfelves 
by ftriking againfi: the wires of their cage, if 
their wings were not tied. Soon, however, they 
become more tamed, they delight in finging, are 
charmed with mufical inftruments, and a fine 
voice. Their emulation is raifed by other birds ; 
and it is fuid that by their exertions they have fallen 
down dead in their contefts. 
As 
