THE NIGHTINGALE. 57 



Family TURDIDsE. Subfamily TURDINsE. 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



Daulias luscinia, L/INN. 



HOWARD SAUNDERS gives the following as the geographical distri- 

 bution of this species : " On the Continent, Northern Germany appears 

 to be the highest authenticated latitude for our Nightingale; south of which, 

 except where systematically molested by bird-catchers, it is generally distributed 

 throughout Central Europe. In such southern countries as Portugal, Spain, 

 Italy, Greece and Turkey, it is very abundant in suitable localities; breeding 

 also in North Africa, Palestine and Asia Minor. Its north-eastern limit in 

 Europe appears to be the valley of the Vistula; and in Rtissia it is confined 

 to the southern provinces." 



The Nightingale visits Great Britain early in April but does not reach the 

 more northern counties until later, it leaves us again in August and September; 

 it has not been known to occur in Ireland, its occurrence in Scotland is doubtful 

 and in East Devon, Shropshire and South Yorkshire it is rare; its distribution is 

 somewhat local, but in the woods of some of the southern counties it is very 

 abundant. 



The colouring of this species above is russet-brown, the tail-coverts and 

 tail being chestnut reddish. Below it is pale buff, greyish on the breast and 

 flanks and brownish on the axillaries ; under tail-coverts buff, deeper than on 

 the centre of throat and abdomen. Bill brown above, pale horn-colour below ; 

 feet brown ; iris hazel. 



The female has a broader crown and bill than the male, but resembles it 

 in colouring. Nestlings are darker and have most of the feathers above spotted 

 with golden-brown ; below they are barred with greyish-brown. 



The Nightingale is a bird of the woods, its favourite haunts are copses, 

 plantations, shrubberies and all timbered land where trees rise amongst dense and 

 tangled undergrowth ; but open forest is not suited to its somewhat timid and 

 skulking nature. As one wanders on the outskirts of some of the almost 



VOL. j. I, 



