464 PERCHING BIRDS 



frequent the same districts throughout the year. In many, and more 

 especially the redstart and its relatives, the edges of the feathers become 

 considerably worn as the season advances, thus producing a marked 

 change in the general colour. Although the redstart lays plain blue 

 ones, the eggs of most of the species are spotted ; and the nests are 

 very frequently placed in the hollows of trees or rocks. It will thus 

 be seen that for the proper identification of birds of this group we 

 have to be acquainted not only with the plumage of the young, but 

 with the habits of the adults. There is, however, no great difficulty 

 in recognising all the British species. 



The nightingale is an excellent instance of the fact that in many 

 cases brilliancy of song is a.ssociated with a sombre-coloured plumage ; 

 the converse of this being also true in the majority of cases. In both 

 sexes the nightingale is russet-brown above, passing into reddish 

 chestnut on the tail-coverts and tail-feathers, while the under-parts 

 are greyish white, inclining to buff on the breast and flanks. In 

 young birds the general tone of the plumage is darker, the upper 

 surface being spotted with yellowish brown, the wing-coverts tipped 

 with buff, and the lower surface dirty white, mottled on the throat and 

 breast with dusky bars. 



Four species of nightingales are recognised, three of which are 

 migratory, while the fourth {Daitli(7s africanus) appears to be resident. 

 Of the typical or western nightingale, the range includes the southern 

 part of Great Britain, and central and southern Europe in summer, and 

 west and south-east Africa in winter. The eastern nightingale {Daulias 

 pJiilomcla\ on the other hand, ranges from central and eastern Europe 

 and Sweden to eastern and Central Asia and south-western Siberia in 

 summer, and visits north-cast Africa in winter ; and the fact of this 

 bird being apparently the true Muscicapa Inscitiia of the Swedish 

 naturalist, Linn.Tjus, is the justification for the above-mentioned 

 transference of name. The fourth and last species is the Persian 

 nightingale {Daiilias i^olzii), ranging from the Caucasus and Persia to 

 Central Asia in summer, and visiting north-western India and equatorial 

 Africa in winter. 



In England the nightingale usually makes its appearance about the 

 middle of April, the cocks arriving a few days before their partners. 

 On arrival these birds at once distribute themselves over the wooded 

 districts of the southern, eastern, and midland counties, with the 

 exception of the west of Devonshire and Cornwall, where they are 

 generally reported to be unknown. To Wales they are also practically 

 strangers, although a specimen was recorded from Montgomeryshire 



