INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 191 



is impossible to distinguish one from another, especially as their mutual 

 calls and notes of alarm are all similar. 



The next of this tribe of summer birds is the pettychaps (Sylvia hor- 

 tensis), or garden warbler, so called because they frequent gardens, and 

 seem to be as fond of fruit, particularly red currants and raspberries, 

 as they are of caterpillars. They are, in their usual habits, a shy 

 bird, and when singing, endeavour to hide themselves in the thickest 

 hedge or bush. Their song is hurried, but with considerable modula- 

 tion ; some of the tones being nearly as deep as those of the blackbird : 

 of course, the ear detects the bird much more readily than the eye ; for 

 if any one tries to have a sight of him, he warily flits to the further 

 side of the bush. 



The next warbler is the whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea). This bird in- 

 habits field hedges, building his filagree nest in low thorn or bramble 

 bushes. He is a jocund, sprightly bird, repeatedly bawling forth his 

 short, yet cheerful, song from the topmost spray of the hedge ; or, 

 mounting in the air, with jerking notes and action, seems to challenge 

 the notice of every passenger. 



In the same hedge may be seen, and occasionally heard, the lesser 

 whitethroat (Sylvia sylviella.) This is a smaller bird than the preceding ; 

 and by no means a conspicuous character, either for beauty or song. 

 He, however, frequents the same places, builds in the same style, 

 arrives and departs at the same seasons with the larger whitethroat ; 

 and is rather a scarce bird. 



The next summer bird is one of the most admired, and best known of 

 all the tribe, namely, the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), a cheerful, 

 social bird, frequenting gardens and shrubberies, and never at a great 

 distance from the habitations of man. Among the pear and apple trees 

 he is indefatigable ; and many a score of the tortrix and other tree de- 

 stroyers does he devour every day. The . blackcap likes a currant or 

 gooseberry occasionally; but these should not be grudged, as some 

 reward for his invaluable services in the orchard, for his cheering 

 matins, and for his lively evening song. As a chorister he is only 

 inferior to the nightingale. 



The last, though not the least, of insectivorous birds which may be 

 mentioned on the present occasion, is the far-famed philomel (Sylvia 

 luscinia.) As a friend to the gardener and farmer, the nightingale has 

 merit : their food are the grubs of beetles, and various sorts of flies which 

 they find among decayed vegetable substances at the roots of trees and 

 hedges j and though not so ostensibly useful in the orchard as many of 

 the foregoing, still they keep in check some insect families which, but 

 for them, might become extensively annoying, and in a way, perhaps, of 

 which we can have no conception. 



The preceding notices of the summer birds are presented with the two- 

 fold view of leading the young naturalist to the contemplation of the 

 great truth, viz. "that not anything was created in vain," and to show 

 the mutual dependence that animals and vegetables have on each other. 

 Many are ready to cry out, what is the use of insects, or small birds, or 

 weeds ? It may be safely answered that, not one tribe of these can be 

 spared ; each are links in the great chain of being ; and were one of 

 them lost, a very extensive derangement might be the consequence. 



M. 



