[24a ‘ ee ae 
whilst in the western counties Devonshire and the Welsh border are the extent of the 
bird’s range asa rule, although a straggler does occasionally wander a little more to the 
west and creates a large amount of interest amongst the music-loving people of Wales. 
In Science Gossip of 1894 the visit of a Nightingale te North Wales is recorded, and the 
intense interest which the bird’s advent excited is described. 
As animmigraut the Nightingale comes to our shores about the middle of April; in the 
neighbourhood of Maidstone, where I have taken observations for several years, the dates on 
which I have first heard the bird have varied from April 14th to the 24th, and the latest 
recorded date on which I ever heard the call-note was August 30th, 1889. 
In the autumnal migration the Nightingale leaves our country about the commencement 
of September, passes southward through Hurope, and winters as far south as Abyssinia. 
IV. Food. 
Insects of various kinds, grubs, caterpillars, ants and their eggs, the last named being 
an especially favourite diet of the Nightingale, who also feeds on earwigs, spiders, etc. 
The young are fed chiefly with small green caterpillars. 
V. Characteristics. 
The Nightingale in its movements and habits much resembles its near relative the Robin ; 
the action of flight in the two birds is very similar, and the former bird also has the same 
custom of flitting along a hedgerow, or by the side of a wood, from which it occasionally 
darts down to the ground to pick up a wandering ant or beetle, or some other morsel of food, 
and at the same time it jerks its tail up and down after the manner of the Robin. When the 
bird is perched on the bough of a tree, pouring forth its wonderful song, the head is thrust 
slightly forward, the tail at the same time being rather depressed. As a songster the 
Nightingale sings both by day and night, and the day and night singers are not separate 
birds, as was thought to be the case at one time, 
VI. Protection. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880.—This bird appears in the Schedule, which applies 
to every county in England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking, killing, etc., a Nightingale during the 
close season,* or possessing or selling a Nightingale after March 15th, is liable to a penalty 
of £1 for each bird. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1894.—The eggs are protected at present (1897) in the 
following counties, or specified breeding areas in counties :-— 
Eneianp.—Yorkshire (W. Riding); Bedford; Gloucester; Huntingdon; Leicester ; 
Lincoln (Kesteven and Lindsey); Northampton; Salop; Stafford; West Suffolk; 
. Warwick; Worcester; Devon; Herts; Kent; London (including Middlesex and 
Metropolitan Police District); and the County Boroughs, Huddersfield, Hastings, 
and Cardiff. 
Wates.—Brecon, Glamorgan, and Pembroke. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking or destroying the eggs of the Nightingale in 
either of the above-named counties or specified areas is liable to a fine of £1 for each egg. 
The eggs, which are generally four or five in number, but occasionally six, are olive- 
brown or olive-green in colour; and when of the former tint are not altogether dissimilar 
from the colour of the bird itself. 
* Generally from 1st March to Ist August; but in some counties from 1st February to lst September 
in each year. A further period is obtained through the Act of 1896. 
