27 
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 
F. B. WHITLOCK, 
Beeston. 
GENERALLY speaking, it is only very few localities north of the Trent 
that are favoured with the regular presence of the Nightingale 
(Daulias luscinia). Perhaps the most yeahs exception to this 
rule is Sherwood Forest. In his book on ‘ The Birds of Sherwood 
Forest,’ published in 1869, Mr. Sterland states that this bird, though 
very local, is met with every year in some numbers, and for anything 
I know to the contrary such is the case at the present time. 
To that portion of Nottinghamshire with which I am most 
familiar, viz., the Trent and Soar Valleys, the Nightingale may be 
said to be a regular spring visitor in variable numbers, as a rule 
breeding rather sparingly. referring small copses and spinneys to 
the larger woods, and by no means shunning the neighbourhood of 
towns and villages, it is a bird that is not likely to pass unnoticed, 
owing to the richness and peculiarity of its song. The same cause 
makes it a favourite with landowners and others, and a pair of 
Nightingales are always welcomed and protected during their stay as 
far as possible. The Nightingale reaches us about the middle of 
April, a little earlier or later, according to the season, and though 
the male is a very inconspicuous bird, he soon makes his presence 
known by the unique character of his song. Readers of ‘The 
Naturalist’ will be probably aware that the Nightingale sings 
heard to far greater advantage when the voices of other birds are 
hushed. 
I first met with the Nightingale in the leafy lanes of Warwickshire, 
where it may be said to be a fairly common bird. I was walking by 
the side of a wood when I noticed what I at first took to be some 
very plump Redbreasts hopping about in a shallow ditch, but on 
catching sight of the rich brownish red of the tail I saw that my sup- 
posed Redbreasts were PAIN When standing with its back 
towards the observer th le has a very Robin-like appearance, 
_ the general colour of i upper parts being very similar, if we except 
the tail. Mr. Seebohm classes the Nightingale, Redbreast, and the 
Bluethroats together under the genus Erithacus, which, as far as my 
poor knowledge goes, appears to be a very natural arrangement. 
_Jan. 1892. 
