THK FANTMI, WAliliI.ER. 



A peculiarly intorcstiiig spccli'.s of the genus Si//ri(i, to wliicli the Wrens beluiig, is 

 found in Spiiin, Portugal, Italy, Sardinia and Sieily ; it is the Fantail V^'arhler. J'iain 

 and sober is the plumage of tliis bird ; it is of a dead leaf colour, or reddish yellow ab(i\ e, 

 each feather being dashed in the middle with blackish brown, so as to present (he 

 appearance of a mullitude of longitudinal spots, except on the lower portion of the back, 

 which is plain, as is also the whole of the under surface, whicli is of a reddisli wliite. 

 'J'he tail is short, graduated, and of a blackisli brown, each feather having a deej) lilack 

 spot near the end. The total lenglli of this species is scarcely four iuclies. 



The nest of this bird 2)resenls a most beautiful example of instinctive skill. It is placed 

 in a tuft of tall grass, and elevated froni the ground. A\'ith singular neatness, a number 

 of the blades of grass are drawn together and interlaced, or truly sewed with a kind of 

 cotton thread, which is the bird's own manufacture. Tlu^ bhides of grass, thus secured, 

 form an exterior case and sujjport to a long and harrcl-sliaped ne.sf, (.pen at the lop, and 

 eon.'-istin"- of a flocculent cotton-like material, seenrrd by llireads to (he blades uud stalks 

 wliich environ it so chiscly, (lia( uotliing can lie more elleclually concealed. 



Silvia Cisticolu. 



