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among the herbage, or under a bank. On land it 
runs with great facility, and often perches on 
stumps or trunks of willows, on which it sometimes 
forms its nest—a rather bulky construction, which, 
however, is usually placed on the ground among 
reeds or in the water. The eggs, of which there 
may be six, eight, or ten, are of a pale greyish 
yellow, or greyish brown, dotted with deep brown 
spots. 
NIGH TENGE. 
PHILOMELA LUSOINIA. 
This bird is common in Sweden and in the 
northern parts of Germany, and arrives in Britain 
towards the end of April or the beginning of May, 
the males preceding the females by an interval of 
ten days or a fortnight. They disperse over the 
southern and eastern counties, and proceed as far 
north as the vicinity of York and Carlisle. Although 
supposed to have been heard in Scotland, none of 
them have ever been obtained there. It is of a 
very shy disposition, frequenting woods rank with 
underwood, close thickets, thorn brakes and hedges, 
and is seldom seen in the place of its retreat, being 
only discovered by its song. The variety, unri- 
