138 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



the females of the same species settled near the 

 trial courts." 



The nest of the Nightingale is either on the 

 ground or close to it, under thick hedgerow 

 bottom or thicket, or may be bank of a coppice ; 

 the materials are dry grass and leaves — number of 

 eggs, four to five, colour, olive-brown. When the 

 young birds are hatched the parents display great 

 solicitude on their behalf. The males of this species, 

 like the Redstarts, precede the females by several 

 days. The breeding locality of the Nightingale in 

 our islands may be said to lie south of a line drawn 

 through the Midland counties. They are never 

 seen either in Scotland or Ireland. In regard to 

 the habitat abroad, in summer it may be said to 

 occupy the southern portion of the European 

 Continent, and in winter to go as far south as 

 Abyssinia. 



The specimens in the case were shot in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Caterham Valley ; the district all 

 round affording a very suitable habitat. 



The Whitethroat. 

 Family, Jurdidce. 

 The Whitethroat is migratory and non-resident ; 

 comes to our islands much about the same time as 

 the Nightingale, i.e., latter end of April, returning, 

 however, somewhat later, viz., towards the end of 

 September. It is much more widely distributed than 

 the last named species, being found pretty well 



