This bird has been celebrated for its musical powers, almost from time immemorial. Poets have sung its praises, and historians have recorded its merits; and it is figured on the pages (not greatly to advantage however) of the immortal Shakspeare himself.

Of its merits or demerits as a songster, or whether the great bard was as good a judge of birds as he was of men, it behooveth us not to speak. We are sorry to say we never had the pleasure of listening to his delightful strains, either by night or day, as it never honors that part of North Britain, which gave us birth, with its company. It is not found in Scotland, or Ireland, or Wales, and indeed it is only in some parts of England that it will condescend to reside. It is also found in Sweden and Russia.

As it will not visit us, we have tried very hard to bring it, but have not as yet succeeded; it is rather a delicate bird and requires care and attention to keep it. A friend, who has brought many birds across the Atlantic, left Liverpool the latter part of last summer with three of these birds, in one of the Boston steam packets, but they all died on the passage; the last, two days before he arrived in Boston.*

Food

The following are the German and English methods of feeding this bird:

* Since writing the above, I am happy to say, that a gentleman in this city, who has in his possession a few of the best American and foreign songsters, and who devotes some of his leisure hours to the agreeable recreation and rational amusement of studying their habits and attending to their little wants, has succeeded in getting two Nightingales (which he sent for) from Germany safe and sound. They appear to be in good health, and I sincerely hope he will be repaid for the care and attention he bestows upon them, by listening to their delightful music in the spring.

German

The best food is ants' eggs, to which are daily added two or three meal worms; when none of the former remain, they must be supplied by dried, or rather roasted, ox heart and raw carrot, both grated and then mixed with dried ants' eggs. A little lean beef or mutton may be used sometimes.*

English

White bread soaked in boiled milk, mashed into a paste, with ground hemp seed scalded, and meal-worms once or twice a day, and a small quantity of the hard-boiled yolk of an egg, or bread and milk, meal-worms, or ants' eggs, or maggots, with boiled vegetables and pudding, of which they are very fond.+

American

The Nightingales now in Boston are fed upon Indian meal and milk, meal-worms and ants' eggs, and are doing well.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

The Nightingale is scarcely as large as a common sized Canary bird, and of plain and homely colored plumage. The male has the upper parts of a yellowish brown, reddish towards the head; the primaries or main feathers of the wings are darker, and towards the tail a chestnut color; the lower parts, on the throat and breast, are grayish white, almost pure white towards the vent; at the tail yellowish white. The female is smaller in size, but similar in plumage, and is only known (it is said) by the general characteristics, not standing so upright as the male, having a smaller eye, etc.

* Bechstein.

+ Timbs's Manual of Cage Birds.

Location

This bird takes a most extensive range, and is said to be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in them all Resident.