Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-05
The skyIark and the Nightingale

The SIX lark ana the Mig htin gal G.
Pertinent 70 paragraph in The STAR a few
days ago, suggesting the Introduction In to this
vicinity OF the English or European Nightin-
gale ard the English Skylark. its readers Will
be pleased to know that Mr.. Eug!and, the pub
iishfr OF the New York Sun, last fall procured
Two hundred of the latter, which he proposed
10 set free on hrs farm Ia New Jersey this
spring. This number has since been reduced
by escapes and various casualties resulting In
death, TO little less than one hundred but the
birds now remaining are In good condition, and
1t Is believed that they VIII thrive and Increase
IL not moeSted too much after they are turned
loose. This IS by no means certain, however.
The climate during the winter season In that
locality Is much more severe and trying than
that TO which the little strangers have been
accustomed at home, and It Is not at all un-
likely that many or them viii succumb to it,
This appears TO have been the fate o: An fmpor.
taiion OF the same variety of birds brought
over to this country on two previous occa-
sions,-one experiment having been made as
early as forty years ago, and the other In 1852.
They and their descendants were to be seen
and heard for number Of years Afterwards In
the vicinity or the place where they were
turned loose, on Long Island but it Is not be-
neVed that any OF their race now remain there.
There cannot be much doubt, however. that
an experiment of the kind would be much more
likely TO succeed IL fairly teStedin this latitude,
AT any rate 1t is to be hoped that some Of the
public spirited people OF this locality may act
together, and see whether IL would not succeed.
The cost In any event would be Slight, and only
partial success would well reward the outlay.
But the chances are favorable for a satisfactory
result. The winter climate of the Underwater
portions Of Maryland and Virginia Is much
milder than that of the vicinity of New York,
ana even should the attempt fail there again
That fact ought by no means to discourage
like EFFORT here.
IL would also be good thing TO undertake
the Introduction of the Nightingale into this
locality. and there Is reason TO believe that it
could easily be acciimated here IL the effort
were properly made. As Milton calls her,
THE vakeful Nightingale,
That all night long her amOrous descant sings"
would be a charming acquisition to our choir
OF singing birds Its voice IS OF the sweetest,
and In addition TO this 1t Is real and indus
uious insect and larv8 destroyer. It Is not
likely. however, that it would take the same
high rank here which it holds in England and
on the continent. The Nightingaie's great
reputation at home is largely due to the fact
that as song bird Ii has had there no such
competitor as would be met here IN the Mock
lng-bird, the third, the Bobolink and the
Brown Thrush. In a country where these
matches warb!ers do not exist, sweet Philo.
mela" is naturally regarded as something quite
phenomenal; but, pitted against these In an
out door concert. she would probably drop to
the third or fourth position in the In the list OF
leading artisses. As the skies and sunsets of
Italy first won their place In English art and
literature when contrasted With those OF Eng
do no hi
country hold their high position by vi rtue OF
never matching their notes against those OF
he songsters of America. Still, If the voice OF
the Nightingale is legs strong and spirited than
that OF the birds We have named, 1t Is full as
sweet as any. with the added advantage that
II sings loUdest and sweetest when the voices
CT the others are hushed in sleep. This OF
self would make IL great and deserved
t.voTite.