NIGHTINGALE. 135 



breadth. Incubation, performed by both sexes, lasts on 

 an average thirteen days, but the eggs are often sat upon 

 as soon as laid. 



DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS : The eggs of the Robin 

 are best distinguished by their size, white ground colour, 

 and brownish-red markings. The nest also is very 

 characteristic, both in position and materials. The eggs 

 cannot readily be confused with those of any other 

 species breeding in our area. 



Family TURDID^E. Genus ERITHACUS. 



Sub-family TURDIN^. 



NIGHTINGALE. 



ERITHACUS LUSCINIA (Linnceus). 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, May. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA: The distribution of the 

 Nightingale in our islands is remarkably restricted, 

 and confined almost exclusively to the area of the 

 Plains : the Plain of York, the Central Plain, the Eastern 

 Plain, the valley of the Thames, and the southern counties 

 as far west as Shropshire and Somerset. It is said to 

 breed sparingly and locally in Breconshire and Glamor- 

 ganshire. The Nightingale is unknown in Scotland 

 and Ireland. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Nightingale arrives in the 

 southern portions of our islands about the middle of 

 April, but is at least a fortnight later in its northern 

 haunts. Its principal haunts are in small woods, plan- 

 tations, marshy spinneys, the outskirts of hop gardens, 

 shrubberies, and orchards. To a certain extent the 



