THRUSHES 29 
50. Redbreast, robin [Hrithacus rubecula melophilus (Har- 
tert)]. Generally resident and common. The autumn and 
spring birds of passage from and to N. Europe belong to the 
paler-hued subspecies, EL. rubecula rubecula. 
Bird. Length 5} in. Distinguished at all seasons by the 
orange-red of the throat and breast which is margined blue- 
sy. Upper-parts olive-brown. Belly white. The fledg- 
ings have no red; both their upper- and under-parts are 
mainly brown, spotted and streaked with buff. 
Nest. Place: in banks, or holes in trees and walls, and almost 
any position that affords some cover. Material: dead leaves, 
moss, grass, &c., lined usually with hair and a feather or so, 
Eggs. Usually 5-6. Dull white more or less spotted with 
red. Av. size, *78x°61 in. Laying begins March-April. 
Broods 2-3, 
51. Nightingale [Luscinia megarhyncha megarhyncha (Brehm) ; 
Daulias luscinia (Linneeus)|. A summer visitor to mid and 
south England and to the eastern borders of Wales. Rarely in 
the northern counties. 
Bird. Length 63 in. Recognised by the russet-brown of 
the u»per-parts and the pale chest- 
nut tail. Under-parts white, except 
the forebreast and flanks, which ~ 
are greyish-brown. Sexes alike. 
The young have the chestnut tail, 
but the upper-parts are rufous with 
buff spots, and the under-parts 
chiefly white or buflish-white with 
darker edgings forming more or less 
defined bars. 
Nest. Place: usually on or near 
the ground amo herbage, in Fie. 31 
hedge bottoms and undergrowth sce 
in woods. Material: usually dead leaves and grass lined with 
finer material, grasses, leaves, &c. 
Eggs. Usually 4-6. Olive-brown. Rarely blue. “Some 
clutches show distinct fine brown mottling, tending to form a 
cap on a blue-green ground” (Jourdain). Av. size, ‘81 x °61 in. 
Laying begins in May. One brood. 
(10) Family: Turdide. Subfamily: Sylvine—Warblers 
52. Whitethroat [Sylvia communis communis Latham ; Sylvia 
cmerea Bechstein]. Widely distributed summer visitor Bird 
of passage, 
