The Nightingale.
Numb. LIU .
X T O twithftanding the particular F an c y o f divers Perfons, for this or that Bird,
' w h ich they efteem and prefer to all others, the N ightingale, b y the generality o f
Man kin d, is ftill accounted the ch ie f o f all finging Birds ; he fends forth his plea-
fant Notes with fo lavifli a Freedom, that he makes even the Woods to eccho with
his melodious V o i c e ; and this delightful Bird, fcorning to be outdone, w i ll not yield
to any Competitor, either o f Birds or M en ; the W o o d -L a rk is hisgreateft Antagonift,
between w h om th e r e . fometimes happens fuch a - Contention for M a ite ry , each
ftriving to oufvy the other, that like true bred Cocks, , they feem refolved to dye
rather than' lofe the V i i tp r y ; i f the former carries it in Stoutnels and Freeneis o f
Song, fo does the latter in his pleafing Variety o f foft warbling harmonious Notes,
in w h ich to m y F an c y , none excels, or is equal to him.
T h e N ightingale is not fo remarkable for an y variety or beauty o f Colours, but
well kn ow n for its finging b y N ig h t : In Size it is about the bignefs o f the Goldfinch,
fomething longer bodied, the Head, Back, W in g s and T a i l are o f a reddiih brown
Co lo u r ; the Breaft and Belly paler, inclining to a dirty white, the Legs o f a yellowiih
flefh C o lo u r ; they build in a thick Hedge low to the Bank, making their N e ft p f
Leaves, Straw, and Mofs, and lay five Eggs.
T h o fe Birds are not feen in this Kingdom in the Win te r time, where they are,
when abfent from us, is altogether u n kn ow n : T h e y come towards the latter end o f
M arch and beginning o f A p r il, and leave us at the latter end o f Summer. T h o ie
kept in Cages w ill fing feven or. eight Months in the Year, from the beginning o f November
till Midfummer-, keeping them cle an : T h e ir Food is Sheeps Hearts and boiled
E g gs, and n ow and then a M ea l W o rm, o r Spider.
H