Birds. 523 



however, require much acumen to perceive that M. Tem- 

 minck's description of S. hippolais will not accord with either 

 of these species, as described by British authors, and that the 

 difference between their measurements is very much greater 

 than that between those of the chiffchaff and the willow wren. 

 A specimen of Temminck's bird (the S. hippolais Tern, and 

 of Bechstein, S. polyglotta of Viellot and Ranzani, le grand 

 pouillot of Cuvier, Hordeola polyglotta * Blyth), is now in my 

 possession. It is of about the size and shape of a blackcap 

 (Zacedula atricapilla f ) : the bill is large, and formed much 

 like that of a nightingale ; longer, and not quite so thick, and 

 the rictorial bristles are smaller and less conspicuous than they 

 are represented at page 52. of the Field Naturalist 's Magazine. 

 Temminck has accurately described its plumage ; and if, in 

 addition, he had merely mentioned that it was a fine songster, 

 an immense deal of confusion would have been prevented. Its 

 nest, a fine specimen of which is in the collection of Professor 

 Rennie, is of a most beautiful and solid construction, and 

 differs essentially in character from that of any other known 

 European warbler. — Edward Bli/th. Tooting, Surrey. [For 

 figures, &c , of three sylvias, see Vol. III. p. 519.] 



A Canary Bird (Fringilla candria L.) which was situate 

 near a Gas Lamp, and would, on Music being played, si?ig at 

 Night. — J have often, in my evening walks to Blackness, 

 been delighted by listening to a bird of this species, whose 

 cage is hung opposite a brilliant gas light, pouring forth its 

 gleeful melody responsive to the soldiers* bugles, as loudly 

 and as merrily as if the sun were shining. — Wm. Gardiner, 

 jun. Dundee, April 6. 1833. 



The Materials of the Nest of the Common Wren (Troglodytes 

 vulgaris), Vol. I. p. 344., Vol. III. p. 568., Vol. V. p. 738., 

 Vol. VI. p. 1 72. — Though the nest is most generally con- 

 structed of moss, with a lining of feathers and hair, yet the 

 materials are varied with the locality. In dry sandy banks it 

 is composed of dried moss, mingled with fibres of grass ; in 

 mossy braes among furze, of moss and decayed straw ; on the 

 branches of trees, of moss and lichens ; and in clefts of rocks, 

 of dried leaves, similar in colour to the stone. — Id. 



Birds' Nests in singular Places. (Vol. V. p. 286. 289. 735., 

 Vol. VI. p. 32. 68. 140. 154. 454.) — As a parallel case with 

 that recorded in p. 455., it may be mentioned, that Mr. 



* See the Field Naturalist's Magazine for May, 1833, p. 204. I was, 

 however, wrong there in stating that Temminck's S. hippolais did not refer 

 to this bird. 



f For an arrangement of the British warblers, see the Field Naturalist's 

 Magazine for October, 1833. 



