'lURDIN.I^. . 39 





THE NIGHTINGALE. 



Dallias lusci'nia (Linnaeus). 



This noted songster usually comes to us about the end of the 

 second week in April ; the males preceding the fem.ales by several 

 days. Although generally distributed over the greater part of 

 England, it becomes rarer in the west, until in Devonshire a line 

 is reached beyond which the bird is absolutely unknown ; and 

 the same may be said of Wales, except Glamorganshire and 

 Brecon. A straggler to Cheshire, its occurrence in Lancashire is 

 questionable, while it is unknown in Westmoreland, Cumberland, 

 Northumberland, and Durham. In Yorkshire, where its range is 

 increasing, it has recently bred near Scarborough. There is as 

 yet no proof that it has visited Scotland or Ireland. 



On the Continent, Northern Germany appears to be the highest 

 authenticated latitude for our Nightingale ; south of which, except 

 where systematically molested by bird-catchers, it is generally dis- 

 tributed throughout Central Europe. In such southern countries as 

 Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey, it is very abundant in 

 suitable localities ; breeding also in North Africa, Palestine and 

 Asia Minor. Its northeastern limit in Europe appears to be the 

 valley of the \'istula ; and in Russia it is contined to the southern 

 provinces. From the Caucasus eastward to Turkestan and Persia, is 

 found a closely allied form, D. gohii — rather more olivc-colourcd, 



