2/2 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



The Nightingale (Philomela Luscinid] visits us in 

 great numbers, and is generally distributed ; but it 

 appears to prefer the damp woods and groves of the 

 valley to the upland covers and hedgerows. The nest 

 is a somewhat massive structure of dead leaves (chiefly 

 oak), and the eggs very much resemble those of the 

 pheasant in colour. Of our Warblers, which arrive 

 about the same time as the nightingale, the Garden 

 Warbler (Sylvia hortensis] and the Black-cap (Sylvia 

 atricapilld) are so remarkable for the general resem- 

 blance of their notes, their nests and their eggs, that a 

 casual observer would find it more than difficult to 

 distinguish either from those of the other, although 

 the birds themselves are sufficiently dissimilar. The 

 male and female of both species, as we have often 

 seen, take an equal share in the business of incubation, 

 during which their delightful song is seldom heard. 

 It is resumed, however, ab&ut Midsummer, when they 

 are making preparation for a second brood. We have 

 never met with any marked variation in the eggs of the 

 Garden warbler ; but the Black-cap has supplied us 

 on two occasions with a remarkable and beautiful rose- 

 coloured variety. The Greater Whitethroat (Sylvia 

 cinered) is more common than the two latter, and is 

 chiefly heard in the lowland hedges and underwoods. 

 The Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia garruld) is found in 

 the same localities as the last, but is not so numerous. 



The Dartford Warbler (Melizophilus provincialis) 

 has been rarely seen here. We can record but two 

 instances of its appearance in the parish, one among 

 the heath and furze on East Harting Down, the other 

 at West Heath ; but its nest has been met with at no 

 great distance from us. We learn from a gentleman 

 who has had rare opportunities of practically studying 

 the habits of this bird, that it is not uncommon on the 

 heath-and-furze-covered wastes between Liphook and 

 Godalming, where he has discovered many of its nests 

 every season. His mode of proceeding is to take an 

 early stroll on the waste, so early, indeed, that he not 



