346 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



in Brecon, and in Salop it is chiefly confined to the Severn valley, penetrating into 

 the borders of Denbigh, Montgomery and Flint. A few pairs have bred in Cheshire, 

 and the southern half of Staffordshire, and the low ground of South Derbyshire 

 are annually visited by a few birds. In Notts it also breeds locally, and reaches 

 its northern limit in Yorkshire, avoiding the Pennines, the Cleveland Hills, and 

 the Wolds. The reported instances of breeding in Lancashire are open to much 

 doubt, and the isolated instances of supposed breeding in Northumberland in the 

 north, and Cardigan and Carmarthen in the west are, if correct, quite exceptional. 

 It is unknown in Scotland and Ireland. [F. c. R. j.] 



3. Migration. A summer visitor to its British breeding range, and a mere 

 straggler to any other parts of our area in which it occurs at all. The nightingale 

 arrives "along the whole south coast, but first and chiefly on the eastern half." 

 Only a few stragglers have arrived before mid- April, when the first big "wave" 

 reaches our shores. Other waves follow, and the birds spread inland. The whole 

 movement may be practically over by the end of the month, or may drag on well 

 into May. The males appear fully a fortnight before the females. The emigration 

 season lasts from mid- August to mid-September. The small area from which all 

 the members of the species participating in the British movements are drawn, 

 is probably chiefly responsible for the shortness of the periods over which these 

 movements extend. The species travel singly or in small parties. (Cf. B. 0. C. 

 Migration Reports, i. pp. 31-33; ii. pp. 46-49; iii. pp. 54-57, and pp. 61-64; and 

 Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, pp. 32-33.) [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The nest is generally close to or on the ground in woods 

 or hedge bottoms, often close to a roadside and not far from water, but occasionally 

 as much as 3 or even 5 feet high. The foundation consists of a profusion of dead 

 leaves, chiefly oak, but sometimes also beech, and coarse bents, while the interior 

 is lined with finer grasses and sometimes a few hairs or small dead leaves. (PL 

 xvn.) The cock has been seen to share in the work of construction (W. Farren, 

 in litt.). Eggs 4 to 6, generally 5, in number, uniform olive-brown, shading to 

 greenish. Some clutches show distinct fine brown mottling tending to form a 

 cap on a blue-green ground : others are a beautiful blue without marking. 

 Average of 100 eggs, -81 x -61 in. [20'6 x 15-5 mm.]. The breeding season begins 

 early in May, but fresh eggs may be found till late in the month. Incubation lasts 

 about 14 days, and is, according to Naumann, performed by both sexes, chiefly no 

 doubt by the hen. Bailly asserts that it is performed by the hen alone. One 

 brood is reared in the season. [P. c. R. J.] 



