128 NIGHTINGALE. 



tho first arrival of the males, which occurs some 

 days before that of the females, (similar to what 

 takes place with most of our migratory birds,) 

 the song is commenced immediately, and for this 

 short period they are in great request by the 

 London bird catchers, for if taken after a mate 

 has been gained, their melody is not continued in 

 confinement. It frequents the lower coppices, 

 rather than the grown or aged woods, plantations, 

 or countries thickly interspersed with lanes and 

 hedges, and, according to Mr Yarrell, * the 

 grounds of the market gardeners, near London, 

 are favourite haunts with this bird, where, un- 

 doubtedly they find an -ample supply of suitable 

 food. When disturbed in these retreats, the call 

 or alarm note is even less pleasing than that of 

 our other summer warblers, being a kind of 

 guttural croak, or "jug," as it is termed, fre- 

 quently and quickly repeated. The nest is 

 formed upon the ground, and is rather carelessly 

 built of dried grasses and slender roots. The eggs 

 are of an uniform olive-brown colour, without 

 spots, which is somewhat at variance with the tints 

 antl markings generally seen in those of Curruca. 

 Of very plain and unobtrusive colours. The 

 male has the upper parts of the plumage yellow- 

 ish-brown, tinged with reddish on the crown ; the 

 quills are of a darker tint ; the outer webs, the 

 whole tail and rump, are pale reddish chestnut- 

 brown ; the throat, breast, and flanks, grayish 

 white, shading to nearly purely white on the 

 * Yarrell, i. p. 276. 



