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SYLVIA Luscinia. 
The Nightingale. 
S. Luscinia. Above reddish brown, beneath pale yellowish 
ash, tail deep tawny red, 
Sylvia Luscinia. Turt. Brit . Faun. v. 1 . p. 44. 
Bill dusky, the lower mandible of a white horn colour. 
Eyes large. Iris hazel. Quills and coverts more or less 
of a reddish brown, with paler margins. Belly yellowish 
ash, whiter towards the tail. Upper part of the head and 
haclz y in some, reddish brown or chesnut, in others, grey 
brown, (scarcely two are alike in colour.) Tail , generally 
moving up and down, of a tawny red, composed of several 
broad feathers, which makes it appear very broad when 
expanded. Legs very long, light brown. 
Length six inches ; extent ten ; weight from six to eight 
drachms. 
This is a very interesting species, and deservedly 
esteemed for its song, which surpasses that of all 
other birds, from its variety of notes ; it also sings 
the greater part of the night, as well as by day. 
In its wild state, it frequents woods, copses, and 
gardens, where it is often heard, but seldom seen. 
It generally visits us about London the beginning of 
April ; in Somersetshire it seldom arrives till the 
middle or latter end of that month, sometimes not 
till the beginning of May ; some counties it does not 
visit at all. Its food consists entirely of insects of 
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