THE NIGHTINGALE 167 



under the bathing machines along the whole length of 

 the shore at Brighton. 



This fine singer is very local in its appearance. In 

 the West of England it is rarer than elsewhere, and 

 beyond Devonshire it is said to be quite unknown. In 

 the Midlands it is scarce, and in the Northern counties 

 it is entirely absent excepting in Yorkshire, where it is 

 getting more common. They seem to be capricious in 

 their comings and goings from given localities ; no doubt 

 their presence depends on the season's scarcity or 

 abundance of the food they prefer. The nestlings live 

 on spiders, ants and small green caterpillars in June, and 

 they afterwards frequent fields planted with peas and 

 beans. The adult birds feed on worms, insects and wild 

 fruits, especially the berries of the elder. 



The Nightingale is as plain in plumage as it is 

 marvellous in song. The mantle is russet-brown, 

 shading off into reddish-chestnut near the tail, which 

 is rust-colour, underparts whitish. It is scarcely as large 

 as a Sparrow, and is much more delicately formed. Beak 

 thin and pointed, legs slender. The shining, dark-brown 

 eye has a brilliant glow. Its nest is placed among the 

 bushes of a thicket, always near the ground. The outer 

 covering is of dry leaves, then come blades of grass and 

 fine rootlets, sometimes having hair interwoven with 

 them. It does not stand out from the surrounding 

 objects, and requires a sharp eye to discover it. The 

 clutch consists of five or six olive-green eggs, with 

 darker reddish-brown veining and speckles. 



