nightingale (1) ( gh silent), nightegale

[A. S. nihtegale a nightingale, lit. a singer of the night, from nihte (gen it. of niht, neaht ) =night, and gale =a singer, from gal an =to sing; cogn. with Dut. nachtegaal; Dan. nat tergal; Sw. näktergal; Ger. nach tig all; O. H. Ger. nahtagala, nahtegala, nahti gala. For the excrescent n before g, compare pas senger and me enger.] 1. Lit. & Ornith .: Motacilla luscinia (Linnæus), Daulias luscinia of modern ornithologists. It is the most highly esteemed of song birds. The plum. age is alike in both sexes, reddish-brown above, grayish-white beneath, breast darker-hued, tail rufous. It builds either on or close to the ground, and lays from four to six deep olive-colored eggs. Sylvia ( daulias ) philomela is called the Thrush Nightingale; its song is louder than, but not so sweet as, that of the true Nightingale; the Virgin i an Nightingale is a species of Grosbeak, and the Redwing is often spoken of as the Swedish Nightingale. *2. Fig .: A term of endearment. The Indian nightingale, Kittacincla macroura , inhabits the rece es of some Eastern forests, singing during the night. Numbers are caught by the Bengalees, and, inclosed in darkened cages, are carried through the streets of Calcutta singing beautifully.