232 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



the ground, on little banks at the foot of trees, 

 amongst exposed roots at the bottom of hedgerows, 

 under the shelter of ferns or weeds. I have known 

 one at some little height from the ground, amongst 

 the dead weeds, twigs, and leaves that had been 

 built up round the trunk of a tree for the purpose 

 of hiding a gunner in pursuit of Wood Pigeons. In 

 woods, groves, small shady copses, plantations, 

 quiet gardens, and commons with clumps of hazel 

 briars and brambles growing thereon. It is pecu- 

 liarly limited in its habitat, as a rule going no 

 farther north than Ripon in Yorkshire, and no 

 farther west than the Valley of the Exe, although 

 individuals have been met with beyond these limits, 

 and there is reason to believe it is extending its range. 



Materials. Dry grass-stalks, leaves, moss, bits 

 of bark and fibrous roots, lined inside with fine grass 

 and horsehair. 



Eggs. Four to six, generally five. Uniform 

 olive-brown or olive-green. Specimens have been 

 met with occasionally of a greenish-blue colour, 

 minus any reddish-brown, which colour upon the 

 greenish-blue produces olive-brown. Sometimes the 

 brown is disposed in a kind of cap at one or other 

 of the ends of the egg, or in streaks. Size about 

 .85 by .6 in. (See Plate IV.) 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in April and leav- 

 ing in August. Notes : Call, purr, purr, and some- 

 thing like wheet / Bechstein rendering it wiU, krr y 

 and adding that it has a note of enjoyment repre- 

 sented by a deep tack. Its song is uttered both by 

 day and night, and is ravishingly sweet and melo- 

 dious. Local or other name : Philomel. Sits 

 closely, and slips away without demonstration. 



