File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14755376085).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
to every one—ornitho-logist or otherwise. Poets have sung his praises forcenturies, and not in vain, for there are few who do not inconsequence feel a desire to hear this unsurpassed musicianof the bird world. Like all good things, however, oursongster does not overwhelm us with his melody. On hisarrival in this country, about the third week in April, hebursts forth, pouring out his ecstasy in glorious and variedsong. What a thrill it gives us as we listen on a warmspring evening to the liquid notes bubbling forth andresounding through the still air. He pauses for breath,and we can then hear in the distance the voice of anotherand yet another answering the song, the more distantwarbling sounding as echoes of our own musician, till thewhole country-side is full of exquisite melody. We retire,feeling in ourselves the magic of that breath of springwhich has brought the ever-welcome wanderer to our shoresonce more. To attempt to describe that song in words 38 NIGHTINGALEDaulias Imcitiia
Text Appearing After Image:
The Nightingale would be impossible; loud and clear with full-toned deepliquid notes, now rising with impassioned fervour, and then,suddenly stopping, he recommences after a telling pausewith a low plaintive cry. There is no mistaking it whenheard; it is the trained voice breathing soul and fire withevery note, compared with which the songs of our otherbirds, however bright and joyous, are like dismal pipings. Soon after his arrival comes his mate, and then the songwill be at its best and continue both day and night, till onewonders how and when he can sleep. Nest-building isbegun almost immediately; a site is chosen on the groundin some thicket, and a delicate cup is formed of dead leavesloosely laid together with a lining of horse hair and otherfiner materials. The eggs are of a uniform dark olive greenand are generally six in number. The hen alone sits, andwhen disturbed hops away silently from her nest, renderingit very difficult to be discovered. Small woods and coppicesare the s

Note About Images