70 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



of the Robin in his manner, akhough he will by 

 no means allow so near an approach. As he alights 

 on the dead, drooping branch which overhangs the 

 way, the full beauty of his black and ashen-grey 

 plumage is clearly defined against the background 

 of the wood. When he reaches his perch, however, 

 he does not bend forw^ard with the jerkv mov^ement 

 characteristic of the Robin and the Wren. He 

 remains motionless save for his tail, which quivers 

 restlessly, moving horizontally like that of a dog, 

 and in this respect he differs, I think, from all other 

 birds. Sometimes he may be seen to dart from his 

 bough and seize a fly in mid-air; but more often he 

 drops quietly to the ground, where, amidst the 

 herbage of the hedgeside, or at the feet of the trees, 

 he finds the insects on which he chiefly feeds. 



The number of caterpillars, flies, spiders, ants and 

 flving and creeping things which the warblers con- 

 sume, especially in the nestling season, must amount 

 to a vast sum. At this time the parent birds do not 

 content themselves with picking up a single insect 

 at a time; they continue to take them as they 

 occur, until the bill is filled, when they bear them 

 away to the hungry brood. Sometimes a single 

 fly, or several, will be held for a long time, whilst 

 others are being sought for. The manner of 

 arranging the insects in the bill is well shown in 

 the photograph. 



Of the two Whitethroats which frequent Eng- 

 land, the Greater is by far the more common. 

 Although it is a bird by no means conspicuous in 

 plumage, and shuns observation when approached, 



