370 



2 



It appears to be the only Nightingale found in Scandinavia: not recorded from Norway, 

 it occurs in Sweden, though only in the southern provinces, as for instance Skane, the southern 

 portion of Halland, Blekinge, the southern portion of Calraar Lan, Oland, and Gottland ; but it 

 is local, and nowhere common. Meves says that he met with it at Borgholm, Horn, Carlskrona, 

 Borringe, and Stehag, but everywhere in small numbers. It is also met with in Finland ; but 

 Magnus von Wright says (Finl. Fogl. p. 122) that, though nowhere common, it occurs in most 

 parts of Eastern Finland, and has been met with as far north as Leppavirta in Kuopio Lan, 

 where he and two of his brothers shot specimens. He also shot one at Rautalampi, and has 

 heard it at Iokkas, Rantasalmi, and St. Michael, in all of which localities it occurs annually, 

 and is, according to Mr. J. von "Wright, common at St. Michael. In 185G Mr. A. von Nordmann 

 shot one at Helsingfors. On the 10th May Meves heard it singing near Wiborg and near the 

 Ladoga at Dubno ; and at Andoma it was not rare. It is also, he says, stated to occur near 

 Kargapol. 



Sabanaeff informs me that it is found throughout Central Russia, and is commoner near 

 Jaroslaf than Moscow, but it does not range far north. Liljeborg met with it near Wuitegra. 

 On the south-eastern slope of the Ural it is, Sabanaeff says, very rare, but occurs near 

 Ekaterinburg. Of late years only has it been observed in the southern portion of the 

 Tagilskaya Dacha. On the western slope it is commoner, and probably occurs as far north 

 as 59° N. lat. It is said to be found during the summer in Poland and the Baltic Provinces 

 in suitable localities ; but I have no details respecting its range in these countries. Borggreve 

 says that it replaces the common Nightingale in Pomerania, Prussia, and on the eastern frontier 

 of Posen, but appears to be almost wanting in other parts of North Germany, or else of very 

 rare occurrence. Naumann says that it is an eastern bird, being more numerous than the 

 common Nightingale in Hungary and Poland, and also in Austria, but rarer in Silesia, Bohemia, 

 and the rest of Germany. It inhabits the shores of the Danube, the Oder, Elbe, Mulde, Saale, 

 and other rivers of Germany, but is usually found singly, though near Dessau it is not rare. 

 Naumann remarks that he never met with it except close to the large rivers, where it frequents 

 the flat country. 



Mr. Benzon, writing to me from Copenhagen, says, " the name most in use here for Dauh'as 

 philomela is Natter gal, except in Bornholm, where it is called Fjeldstavn; and the names Stor- 

 Nattergal, ])obbcl-Nattergal, and Sprosser-Naltergal are only used by bird-dealers and others 

 who know the southern species also. It appears to be the only Nightingale inhabiting Denmark, 

 and is in many localities common, as for instance on Bornholm, here and there in South Jutland 

 and in portions of Laaland ; but in Jutland it does not appear to range above Aarhus. It is not 

 so common in Seeland and in other portions of the islands, chiefly because it is so persecuted by 

 bird-catchers that in fact it is almost extinct in some parts ; but the Act protecting small birds 

 recently passed appears to have had the good effect of rendering it more numerous during the 

 last two years in North-eastern Seeland. It usually arrives here late in April or early in May, 

 and leaves in August. I have often heard its well-known song, and have frequently been treated 

 to a nocturnal concert when in Bornholm, and have noticed the great individual differences in the 

 quality of the song : the younger males appear to lack the depth and power of song possessed by 

 the old birds ; and there are many gradations of excellence in the songs of different individuals. 



