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"Sir William Ouseley, who resided for some time at Shiraz in the year 1811, says, that he passed many hours in listening to the melody of the Nightingales that abounded in the gardens in the vicinity of this city; and he was assured by persons of credit that several of these birds had expired while contending with musicians in the loudness or variety of their notes. Sir William Jones* records a similar contest, not mortal, but of extraordinary result. An intelligent Persian, who repeated his story again and again, and permitted Sir William to write it down from his lips, declared, that he had more than once been present when a celebrated lutanist, Mirza Mohammed, surnamed Bulbul Nightingale, was playing to a large company in a grove near Shiraz, where he distinctly saw the Nightingales trying to vie with the musician; sometimes warbling on the trees, sometimes fluttering from branch to branch, as if they wished to approach the instrument whence the melody proceeded; and, at length, dropping on the ground in a kind of ecstacy, from which they were soon raised by a change of the mode.

"In confirmation of the Persian report given by Sir William Ouseley, it may be mentioned, that, according to Pliny (Nat. Hist. lib. x. 29), in vocal trials among Nightingales, the vanquished bird terminated its song only with its life; and Strada (lib. ii. prolus vi.) supposes the spirit of emulation so powerful in the Nightingale, that, having strained her little throat, vainly endeavouring to excel the musician, she breathes out her life in one last effort, and drops upon the instrument which had contributed to her defeat. Strada's poem on this subject, though long, is too interesting to be omitted; we give it in the beautiful version of Crashaw, an undeservedly neglected poet, who lived in the time of Charles I.:

'Now westward Sol had spent the richest beams
Of noon's high glory, when hard by the streams
Of Tiber, on the scene of a green plat,

Under protection of an Oak, there sate

A sweet Lute's master; in whose gentle airs
He lost the day's heat, and his own hot cares.
Close in the covert of the leaves there stood
A Nightingale, come from the neighbouring wood:
The sweet inhabitant of each glad tree,
Their muse, their syren, harmless syren she,
There stood she listening, and did entertain
The musick's soft report, and mold the same
In her own murmures; that whatever mood
His curious fingers lent, her voice made good.""

* Asiatic Researches, vol. iii. p. 57. Lond. 1801, 8vo.

The following letter of the late Right Honourable Charles James Fox is taken from the above quoted author, and was originally printed in the quarto volume of Memoirs :

:

I

"DEAR GREY,-In defence of my opinion about the Nightingales, I find Chaucer, who of all poets seems to have been the fondest of the singing of birds, calls it a merry note; and though Theocritus mentions Nightingales six or seven times, he never mentions their note as plaintive or melancholy. It is true he does not call it any where merry, as Chaucer does; but by mentioning it with the song of the Blackbird, and as answering it, he seems to imply that it was a cheerful note. Sophocles is against us; but even he says, lamenting Itys, and the comparison of her to Electra is rather as to perseverance by day and night, than as to sorrow. At all events, a tragic poet is not half so good authority in this question as Theocritus and Chaucer. cannot light upon the passage in the Odyssey, where Penelope's restlessness is compared to the Nightingale; but I am sure that it is only as to restlessness and watchfulness that he makes the comparison. If you will read the last twelve books of the Odyssey, you will certainly find it, and I am sure you will be paid for your hunt, whether you find it or not. The passage in Chaucer is in the Flower and Leaf, p. 99. The one I particularly allude to in Theocritus is in his Epigrams, I think in the fourth. Dryden has tranferred the word merry to the Goldfinch, in the Flower and the Leaf; in deference, may be, to the vulgar error; but pray read his description of the Nightingale there-it is quite delightful. I am afraid I like these researches as much better than those that relate to Shaftesbury, Sunderland, &c. as I do those better than attending the House of Commons. Yours,

affectionately,

"C. J. Fox."

A faithful picture of the Farmyard, at this time of year, is drawn by Dr. Bidlake in his poem of the "Year":

With ceaseless clamour now the Farmyard rings.
The Cock crows shrill defiance, strutting proud,
And claps his sombre wings, while all around
His troop of Hens obsequious favour seek;
He hears disdainful from the distant house

His challenge answered; while low hiss the Geese,
Loud quack the Ducks, that with their cleaving feet
Sail o'er the pond. The snarling Mastiff barks
As beggars pass; and proud with circling tail,
And sweeping wing, the Turkey gobbles harsh.
The irritable Hen, with her loud train
Of newhatched Chickens, to the humbler cots,
Intent to pick the scattered crumbs, intrudes,
Fearless, though oft expelled. Clucking she calls -
Her family more close; at each attack

Her ruffled pinions speak her sudden ire;
The little brood, some widow's humble wealth,
Scant aid of age, partake congenial heat,

And chirp incessant round the blazing hearth.

The wonderful instinct of the Hen in constructing her nest and rearing her young is a subject worthy of our observation. With great caution she provides herself a nest in places unfrequented, and free from noise and disturbance. When she has laid her eggs in such a manner that she can cover them, she takes great care, in turning them frequently, that all parts may partake of the vital warmth.

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COELUM.-The clear, fresh, and fragrant mornings which occur at this time of year in fine weather are truly delightful. The Sun breaking out through a very gentle mist, or disclosing, as he rises, a few golden fringed clouds the fragrance of just opening Wallflowers-the glow of Daffodils, Narcissi, Tulips, Hyacinths, and the later of the primaveral flowers in the gardens, and the sweet scent of banks covered with Violets and Primroses, constitute a tout ensemble unequalled by any of the productions of art. In Britain, France, and all the more temperate parts of the Continent, Primroses seem to be regarded by the poets as almost the property of April, of almost every description of which they form a part.

The imbriferous quality of the air producing those hasty April showers, so well known to every observer of Nature, now usually give place to calm and bright skies.

April 28.

St. Vitalis, M. SS. Didymus and Theodora, MM. St. Pollio, &c. St. Cronan. St. Patricius.

FAUNA.-Aikin thus describes the Fauna and Flora of this period of the year:

"Various kinds of insects are seen about this time, of which the most remarkable is the Gryllus Gryllotalpa or Molecricket. This singular animal is distinguished by its low, dull, jarring note, continued for a long time without intermission, like the chattering of the Fern Owl; but still more so by the peculiar structure of its fore feet, which are exceedingly strong, and greatly resemble those of the Mole, whence this insect derives its name. Anatomists also have discovered so great a conformity between its internal structure, and that of the ruminating quadrupeds, as renders it highly probable that this animal, like them, chews the cud.

"The Molecricket inhabits the sides of canals and swampy wet soils, in which, just below the surface, it forms long winding burrows, and a chamber neatly smoothed and rounded of the size of a moderate snuffbox, in which, about the middle of May, it deposits its eggs, to the number of nearly a hundred. The ridges, which they raise in their subterraneous progress, interrupt the evenness of gravel walks, and the havoc they commit in beds of young cabbages, legumes, and flowers, renders them very unwelcome guests in a garden. Partridges still heard by night.

"Several species of that elegant tribe of insects the Libellula, or Dragon Fly, about this time emerge from the water, in which they pass their Aurelia state.

"The Formica Herculanea, or Horse Ant, in the beginning of this month recommences its annual labours; this species is about three times the size of the common Black Ant, and inhabits the pine forests of Scotland, and the rocky woods of England and Wales, in which it erects a large conical nest, two feet or more in height, composed of leaves and small twigs."

The Snake too, the large Bat, and Snails, quit their Winter retirements at this period; and on mild evenings Earth Worms come out of their holes in search of food, or for the purpose of propagation.

Fish, actuated by the same law that exerts its influence upon the rest of nature, now leave the deep holes and sheltered bottoms, where they passed the Winter, and wandering about in search of food, again offer themselves to the Angler.

The river teens; swarming with finny tribes
That brisk forsake the oozie depth below,
And glittering sport upon the bluefaced stream,
Or in the shallows cast their countless spawn.
At wonted eve the nauseous Bat, awaked

By gentle breezes, now and then renews

His fitting flight; the sluggard Snail creeps slow

To meet the twilight dews; and from the earth

The naked Worm trails out its slippery length.-Bidlake.

The Bat is more frequently seen in Spring and Autumn than it is at Midsummer. About this time of year the Bat and Dor Beetle are abroad on every fine evening.

Many trees come into blossom during this month, and form a most agreeable spectacle, as well on account of their beauty, as the promise which they give of future benefits. The Blackthorn or Sloe leads the way, and is already succeeded by the Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, Cherry, and Plumb; but though

Hope waits upon the flowery prime,

yet it is an anxious time for the possessor, as the fairest prospect of a plentiful increase is often blighted by the frequent returns of frosty winds:

Abortive as the firstborn bloom of Spring

Nipped by the lagging rear of Winter's frost. Cowper describes the same circumstance in the following lines:

Spring is but the child

Of churlish Winter, in her froward moods
Discovering much the temper of her sire:
For oft, as if in her the stream of mild
Maternal Nature had reversed its course,
She brings her infants forth with_many_smiles,
But once delivered, kills them with a frown.

FLORA.-Those of the earlier plants that now most strike the eye, are the Primrose and Woodsorrel under hedges, and the Wood Anemone in dry places. The Lady's Smock also in the meadows begins to be common.

We have already observed that the leafing of trees in tolerably early seasons now makes a rapid progress, and we begin to view them in the lively green array of young foliage and newly expanded blossoms. The genuine character of trees, however, should be learned in Winter, when we can study the peculiar ramification of the spray and boughs, as observed by Gilpin in his Forest Scenery.

Verses on the Sorts of Trees.

Not small the praise the skilful Planter claims
From his befriended country. Various arts
Borrow from him materials. The soft Beech

And closegrained Box employ the Turner's wheel,
And with a thousand implements supply

Mechanic skill. Their beauteous veins the Yew
And Phyllerea lend, to surface o'er

The cabinet. Smooth Linden best obeys
The Carver's chisel; best his curious work
Displays in all its nicest touches. Birch-
Ah! why should Birch supply the chair, since oft
Its cruel twigs compel the smarting youth
To dread the hateful seat? Toughbending Ash
Gives to the humble swain his useful plough,
And for the peer his prouder chariot builds.
To weave our baskets the soft Osier lends
His pliant twigs. Staves that nor shrink nor swell,
The Cooper's close wrought cask to Chesnut owes.
The sweetleaved Walnut's undulated grain,
Polished with care, adds to the workman's art
Its varying beauties. The tall, towering Elm,
Scooped into hollow tubes, in secret streams
Conveys for many a mile the limpid wave;
Or from its height, when humbled to the ground,
Conveys the pride of mortal Man to dust.

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