Naturalists make this bird only a variety, or at most, only a species of the common nightingale; but I find points of difference so numerous and so striking, that I think it right to make it a distinct species. 1. It is larger by an inch and a half in length, being six inches and a half, of which the tail, also half an inch longer, occupies two and three-quarters; 2. The head is larger, and the beak is thicker; 3. The colours are different; 4. The song is different. With respect to gait, manner, habits, and the like, it is true there is a resemblance, which exists, however, only in common with the white-throats, and the blackcap, which have never been considered as varieties of the nightingale. The upper part of the body is a dusky brownish grey; the throat is white bordered with black; the breast is brown, with darker spots; the belly dirty white; the wings are deep brown, edged with dirty red; the tail and its upper large coverts dirty maroon, deeper than in the common nightingale; the whole plumage, in short, is generally and in all parts deeper and darker. OBSERVATIONS.--The difference in the song is very remarkable. The greater nightingale has a much stronger, louder, and deeper voice; but it sings more slowly and more unconnectedly; it has not that astonishing variety, those charming protractions, and harmonious conclusions of the common nightingale; it mutilates all the strains; and, on this account, its song has been compared to the missel-thrush, to which, however, it is superior in softness and pureness. The common nightingale is superior in delicacy and variety, but inferior in force and brilliancy. The greater nightingale sings generally in the night, so that it is the real night-singer; while among nightingales this is rather uncommon. Its voice is so loud that it is almost impossible to bear it in a room. It is necessary to keep it always outside the window, either by hanging its cage there, or by opening from it a sort of passage into which it can remove. Its call is also very different; _hi! glack arrr!_ It seems also to pronounce _David, Jacob_, and generally begins its song by the latter word. If the song is complete, it consists of the following strains:-- _Guia, gu, gu, gu. Hajai, hajai, dzu, dzu, dzu, dzu. Gorgué, guéguéguéguéguéh, Hoa goigoigoi gui. Dzicka, dzicka, dzicka. Davitt, davitt, davitt. Gogock, gogock. Guedum, guedum, guedum, guedum, gueï! Gai, goi, goi, goi, guirrrr. Golka, golka, golka, golk. Hia, guiaguiaguiaguia. Glockglockglockglockglockglock. Gueai, gueaigueai gui! Goi, guaguaguagua guagui. Heid, heid, heid, heid hi. Voi dada! voi dada! Gai, gai, gai, gai, guirr, guirr. Hoi, gueguegue gui. Hoi goi._