BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 169 



NIGHTINGALE. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about six 

 inches. Bill of medium length, nearly straight, and 

 brown. Irides hazel. Head and upper parts of body 

 uniform tawny brown. Wing and tail-quills brown, 

 edged with rust-colour. Chin, throat, and all under- 

 parts greyish-white, tinged with brown on the breast, 

 and reddish on the under tail-coverts. Legs, toes, 

 and claws brown. 



The female is rather smaller in size, but otherwise 

 closely resembles the male. 



Situation and Locality. — In natural declivities on 

 the ground, on little banks at the foot of trees, 

 amongst exposed roots at the bottom of hedgerows, 

 under the shelter of ferns or weeds. I have known 

 one at some little height from the ground, amongst 

 the dead w^eeds, twigs, and leaves that had been 

 built up round the trunk of a tree for the purpose 

 of hiding a gunner in pursuit of Wood Pigeons. In 

 woods, groves, small shady copses, plantations, 

 quiet gardens, and commons with clumps of 

 hazel briars and brambles growing thereon. It is 

 peculiarly limited in its habitat, as a rule going 

 no farther north than Eipon in Yorkshire, and no 

 farther west than the Valley of the Exe, although 

 individuals have been met w^ith beyond these 

 limits, and there is reason to believe it is extending 

 its range. Our illustration was obtained in Norfolk. 



Matericds. — Dry grass-stalks, leaves, moss, bits 

 of bark and fibrous roots, lined inside with fine grass 

 and horsehair. 



Eggs. — Four to six, generally five. Uniform 

 olive-brown or olive-green. Specimens have been 

 met with occasionally of a greenish-blue colour. 



