THE NIGHTINGALE. 



279 



The eggs of the Nightingale are four or five in number^ usually the 

 latter^ and sometimes as many as six have been foimd. There appear to 

 be two types of the egg of this bird — a rich olive-brown one^ and a bluish 

 green- one. The ground-eolour of the olive-brown type of egg is bluish 

 green, where it can be seen through the surface-colouring, which is pale 

 reddish brown. The bluish-green type is very faintly mottled with pale 

 reddish brown, the colouring-matter sometimes being collected on one end 

 of the egg like a cap. In some specimens this cap is to be seen on each 

 end, the egg becoming paler round the centre. Some eggs are finely 

 streaked here and there with darker brown. In size they vary from '93 

 to -75 inch in length, and from '65 to '57 inch in breadth. But one 

 brood is reared in the year. 



The Nightingale passes Gibraltar every season in great numbers on 

 its migrations, arriving about the 12th of April, returning in August 

 and September. Tliis locality appears to be the favourite route of the 

 Nightingale over the sea from its summer to its winter quarters. Still 

 many birds cross the ^Mediterranean at other points ; and Dixon has a note 

 to the effect that a nightingale flew on board the steamer when in mid-sea 

 on the 21st of April, crossing from ^Marseilles to Phillippeville. This bird 

 was remarkably tame, and alighted on the back of one of the French 

 soldiers lying on the upper deck. Tlie flight of the Nightingale is buoyant 

 and quick ; but seldom long sustained, for it usually confines its movements 

 to flitting from bush to bush, and rarely crosses the open. 



The Nightingale has the general colour of the upper parts russet-brown, 

 shading into brownish chestnut on the upper tail-coverts and tail. The 

 underparts, including the lores, are huffish white, shading into greyish 

 white on the breast and flanks, and into brownish white on the axillaries 

 and under wing- and tail-coverts. Bill brown above and pale horn-colour 

 below. Legs, feet, and claws brown ; irides hazel. The female in the 

 colour of her plumage does not difi^r from the male. Young in first 

 plumage have pale centres to most of the feathers. 



