The CUCKOO was heard for the first time in song; His voice was at once clear, resounding, and strong.

rather less than the male; the plumage of both nearly alike. In consequence of its unostentatious colours, its shyness, and its frequenting thickets and woods, it is rarely scen, and therefore little known. Builds a nest in low bushes or quick set hedges, well covered with foliage; and, it is said, sometimes on the ground; it is externally composed of dry leaves, mixed with grass and fibres lined with hair or down; eggs, four or five, olive green. It is common to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It does not appear that it has ever been found in America, although several birds in that continent are called by its name. Three varieties; one with the body entirely white; one of more than ordinary size. It is said, that there are two sub-varieties of this species; one, which sings only in the night; and another, which sings more frequently during the day. This is, I think, extremely questionable; for, if sameness of note be any proof, as I conceive it is, the same nightingale sings both by night and by day. Those naturalists have, therefore, made a great mistake, who state, that this bird sings only in the evening, and during the night; it may be heard in tranquil and remote woods, and even very near London, at LEE, GREENWICH-PARK, HORNSEYWOOD, &c. during the day; but its song is, or seems, most harmonious in the night. It may be then heard, too, a considerable distance,―a mile, or even perhaps more.

The curious, in regard to the nightingale, will not be displeased with ST. PIERRE'S account of it. "Dans nos climats le Rossignol place son nid à couvert dans un buisson, en choisissant de préférence les lieux où il y a des echos, et en observant de l'exposer au soleil du matin. Ces précautions prises, il se place aux environs, contre le tronc d'un arbre, et là confondu avec la Couleur de son écorce, et sans mouvement, il devient invisible. Mais bientôt il anime de son divin ramage l'asyle obscur qu'il s'est choisi, et il efface par l'éclat de son chant, celui

Strange SCANSOR is he: for, like HIM of the West,* He never constructs for himself any nest;

de tous les plumages." On this I beg leave to observe, that, whatever may be the fact in France, relative to the nightingale's preference for places where there is au echo, it is by no means so in this country. I suspect, that there is more poetry than truth in the statement.

The nightingale is the most celebrated of all the feathered race for its song. The poets have, in all ages, and most European countries, made it the theme of their verses. It visits this country towards the latter end of April, and takes its departure in August, as it is said; but I suspect not so soon. We still want a knowledge of more facts to make us completely acquainted with the natural history of this bird. MONTAGU, who appears to have been a very accurate observer, says that, if by accident the female is killed, the male resumes his song again, and will continue to sing very late in the summer, or till he finds another mate. It is rarely found in Scotland, the west of Devonshire, or Cornwall; and, I conclude, not in Ireland. Its usual habitation in this country is within the segment of a circle, Dover being the centre, whose radii do not exceed in length two hundred miles, and not one hundred and fifty, as has been frequently stated. Its time of singing, in its natural state, is only from its arrival till about Midsummer; but it will, it is said, when domesticated, sing nine months in the year. Its food, in a domesticated state, may be spiders, wood-lice, ants' eggs, flies, and worms; it is chiefly, however, I understand, German paste, a composition well known in the bird-shops of the metropolis. It requires to be kept in a warm place in winter, or it will die. It is said that the nightingale is common in the birdshops, not only at Venice, but even at Moscow, and that it there

* Emberiza pecoris, or Cow-BUNTING: see Part II.

✦ Etudes de la Nature, tom. iii. p. 309, Hamburgh edit. 1797.

All foundlings his offspring-no moment of care
Devotes male or female their children to rear,

sings as finely as in its native woods; but this is questionable. It is occasionally to be seen in cages in London, where it sings during many months of the year; but it is not, I believe, ever known to breed in confinement here. See Mr. SWEET's letter in the Introduction.

Although this bird in its natural state sings only for about two months in the year, yet CowPER, the celebrated poet, once heard it sing on New Year's Day, and has recorded the fact in some beautiful lines; and which fact, but from such an authority, I should be very much disposed to question. It is probable, however, that the nightingale, which Cowper heard, was domesticated. An opinion has been occasionally entertained, that this bird usually sleeps on, or with its breast against a thorn; under the impression, I suppose, that, in such a painful situation, it would necessarily remain awake. The thought seems puerile; and is not, of course, entitled to the least credit; yet YOUNG, THOMPSON, and Sir PHILIP SIDNEY, have alluded to the supposed fact; Lord Byron treats it as a fable:

"The Nightingale, that sings with the deep thorn,

Which fable places in her breast of wail,

Is lighter far of heart and voice than those
Whose headlong passions form their proper woes."

DON JUAN, Canto VI.

"Grief's sharpest thorn hard pressing on my breast,
I strive with wakeful melody to cheer

The sullen gloom, sweet Philomel! like thee,
And call the stars to listen."

YOUNG'S Night Thoughts, Night I.

"The lowly Nightingale,

A thorn her pillow, trills her doleful tale."

THOMPSON'S Hymn to May.

Of habits unsocial-affection devoid,

His nurse's own children are by him destroy'd.

The reader will have the goodness to remember, that the poet here quoted is not THOMSON, the author of the Seasons, but WILLIAM THOMPSON, author of Sickness, a Poem, Hymn to May, and some Garden Inscriptions, which well deserve the attention of the lovers of poetry.

"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, a thorn her song-book making."

Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.

In this passage it is evident, that SIDNEY supposed the nightingale a dormant winter bird,—one of the seven-sleepers. Notwithstanding its limited range of residence in this country, it is said to be found on the continent as far north as Sweden. Its winter residence is supposed to be Asia; of course, the warmer parts. The sonnets and other addresses to the Nightingale are, in our own language, innumerable; some have been already alluded to in the Introduction; one by MILTON, beginning

"O Nightingale! that on yon bloomy spray

Warblest at eve when all the woods are still:"

has been much admired. Another by Mrs. CHARLOTTE SMITH, the first line of which is

"Sweet poet of the wood,—a long adieu!"

has been also frequently quoted in the miscellanies. An evening address to the Nightingale, by SHAW, has also had an extensive circulation. They all, with very few exceptions, make the song and sentiments of this bird melancholy, sorrowful, or at least pensive. For other observations on this charming bird, see the INTRODUCTION.

TO THE CUCKOO.

Cuculus Canorus. (LINN.)

THOU monotonous Bird! whom we ne'er wish away,Who hears thee not pleas'd at the threshold of May? Thy advent reminds us of all that is sweet,

Which Nature benignant, now lays at our feet ;— Sweet flowers-Sweet meadows-Sweet birds, and their loves;

Sweet sunshiny mornings, and sweet shady groves; Sweet smiles of the maiden-Sweet looks of the youth, And sweet asseverations, too, prompted by truth; Sweet promise of plenty throughout the rich dale; And sweet the Bees' humming in meadow and vale; Of the Summer's approach-of the presence of Spring, For ever, sweet CUCKOO! continue to sing.

Oh who then, dear Bird! could e'er wish thee away? Who hears thee not pleas'd at the threshold of May ?(6)

(6) Order, Picæ, (Linn.) CUCKOO the COMMON, the HONEY GUIDE, the SACRED, &c.

The genus Cuculus, (Linn.) or CUCKOO, comprehends more than eighty species scattered over the globe, the characteristics of which are, a bill somewhat arched, tongue short, tail with ten feathers, toes, two backwards, two forwards; they belong, of course, to the scansorial tribe. The following are most deserving notice.

The Canorus, CUCKOO, COMMON CUCKOO or Gookoo, is fourteen inches long; body above, an ash, or rather a lead colour; beneath, whitish, transversely streaked with black-brown. Two