68 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Plumage. — Bill yellow in front, and red at the base; red irides; 

 dark olive-brown above; slaty-grey head, neck, and under 

 parts, streaked with white on the flanks; under tail-covcrts 

 white; greenish-yellow legs, red above the tarsal joint. Length. 

 — Thirteen inches. Contrary to most birds, the female is larger 

 and brighter in plumage than her mate. 



NIGHTINGALE (Daulias luscinia) 



Local Name. — Philomel. 



I Limit. — Woods, copses, and tangled hedgerows. 



Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — Close to the ground in a thick bush, or among herbage. 



Materials Used. — Dry grass and 

 oak leaves, lined with roots, 

 vegetable down, etc. A deep 

 nest. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. Olive-brown 

 or greenish-blue. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae. 



Voice. — A written description is 

 impossible. In spite of its re- 

 markable beauty, many people 

 mistake the song, especially 

 during the day, when, to the 

 unobservant, it is perhaps 

 difficult to distinguish among 

 the notes of other birds. When Fig. 23- NigWh 



it has young it also utters a weeping note and a harsh " krrrrr." 



Chief Features. — The Nightingale has long been regarded for its 

 minstrelsy. It sings during the day as well as at night, but 

 the song-period is short, and the bird rarely sings after June. 

 It tends the young with great assiduity, and it is a pleasant 

 sight to watch the young birds out of the nest being fed by 

 their parents. A shy, recluse bird; the observer must exercise 

 patience if he would stalk it successfully. A Summer Migrant, 

 arriving about mid-April. 



Plumage. — Chestnut-brown above; rufous tail; greyish-white under- 

 neath; pale ash on flanks. Length. — Six inches and a quarter. 



NIGHTJAR (Caprimidgus europcpus) 



Local Names. — Big Razor-Grinder, Churn Owl, Dog Hawk, Door 

 Hawk, D<Tr Hawk, European Goatsucker, Eve-Churr, Evejar, 

 Fern Owl, Goat Owl, Goatsucker, Heave Jarr, Jar Owl, Moth- 



