142 
SYLVIIN^. PHILOMELA. 
sectivorous, are migratory. Species are found in all parts 
of the globe. In Britain sixteen have been met with. 
GENUS XLIII. PHILOMELA. NIGHTINGALE. 
Bill of moderate length, straight, rather broader than high 
at the base, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible 
with the dorsal line slightly decimate, the ridge narrow, the 
notches faint, the tip acute ; lower mandible with the dorsal 
line slightly convex, the tip rather acute. Mouth of mode- 
rate width ; tongue slender, sagittate and papillate at the 
base, tapering to a slit and lacerated point ; oesophagus of , 
moderate width, without dilatation ; proventriculus oblong ; |i 
stomach a gizzard of moderate power, roundish, compressed, j 
with rather thin muscles, large tendons, thin, dense, longi- i 
tudinally rugous epithelium ; intestine short, of moderate ! 
width ; coeca very small, cylindrical. Eyes rather small. ! 
Nostrils rather large, oblong, operculate. External aperture 
of ear large, roundish. Head ovate-oblong ; neck short ; body | 
rather slender. Tarsi rather long, slender, compressed, with ! 
eight anterior scutella, of which the upper are indistinct ; ^ 
toes slender, compressed, the first stout, the lateral equal ; 
claws of moderate length, arched, extremely compressed, late- 
rally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended ; bristles 
very small ; wings of moderate length, broad, rounded ; the 
first quill very short, third longest, second and fifth equal ; 
tail rather long, straight, even, or slightly rounded. 
The Nightingales form a genus differing from the Sylvias 
chiefly in being of a more slender form, and in having the 
bill, tarsi, and tail, more elongated. They are very inti- 
mately allied to the Turdinae. One species occurs in Eng- 
land. 
77. Philomela Luscinia. Brake Nightingale. 
Upper mandible reddish-brown, lower pale yellowish-brown 
at the tip ; feet and claws pale greyish-brown ; plumage above 
reddish-brown, redder on the head and rump, the tail of a 
brighter tint ; throat, lower part of breast, and abdomen, grey- 
ish-white ; lower part of neck and sides pale greyish-brown ; 
lower tail- coverts dull yellowish- white. Young similar, but 
