BRAKE NIGHTINGALE. 323 



brownish-red. The throat, lower part of the breast, and abdo- 

 men, are greyish-white ; the lower neck anteriorly and the 

 sides pale greyish-brown ; the lower tail-coverts dull yellowish- 

 white. 



Length to end of tail 6j% inches; extent of wings 10| ; bill 

 along the ridge j%, along the edge of lower mandible j^ ; 

 wing from flexure 8-^% ; tail 2^% ; tarsus 1 ; hind toe ^^, its 

 claw ^% ; second toe j%, its claw j| ; third toe i\, its claw 

 ^^ ; fourth toe j%, its claw /j. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male in colour, and 

 nearly of the same size. 



Length to end of tail 6^ inches ; extent of wings 10. 



Variations. — Individuals vary considerably in the tint of 

 the upper parts, which are more or less tinged with red or grey. 

 The feathers sometimes become white, wholly or partially. 



Habits. — So much has been said of the Nightingale that it 

 would be difficult for me to bring forward any thing new as to 

 its manners, without submitting them to a more careful ob- 

 servation than my opportunities have hitherto afforded me. I 

 have therefore applied to a friend well knoMm to all my readers, 

 as an original and successful describer of the habits of birds. 



" The blasts of winter have passed away. The humble 

 violet hangs on its delicate stem, embedded, as it were, in the 

 midst of its deep green foliage. The sweet odour of the purple 

 floweret diffused through the bland air proves that the delight- 

 ful days of spring have returned. Its companion the pale prim- 

 rose spreads all over the mossy bank; there the virginal eglan- 

 tine prepares to open its snowy blossoms ; golden butter-cups 

 and daisies bright cover the green pastures ; and the groves 

 send forth from amid their yet tender foliage tufts of flowers, 

 some yet budding, like the laburnum, others bursting into 

 beauty, like the purple lilac, and the delicate cream-coloured 

 elder. Peach blossoms brightly blushing glow amid the varied 

 hues of the orchard, whose clusters of nectared petals have in- 

 vited the humble bee to trim her wings anew, to ramble hither 



