BIRDS OF THE WOODLANDS 59 



The British Hst of the Sylviidae — to give them 

 their scientific title — includes, according to Yarrell, 

 thirty species. Many of these are, of course, of 

 extremely rare occurrence. 



The Alpine Accentor, for example, nearly akin 

 as it is to the familiar Hedge-sparrow, has been 

 known to appear in Great Britain on about twelve 

 occasions only. It is a form nc>t uncommon in 

 Central and Southern Europe, especially in the 

 Alps and P}Tenees, and is distinguished from the 

 truly British species by a reddish mark on its sides 

 resembling that of the Redwing. Unlike the 

 Hedge-sparrow, it does not perch upon trees or 

 bushes, but is usually seen upon the ground or on 

 rocks, and it is remarkable for its constant tameness, 

 being apparently regardless of man. 



The Bluethroat, again, a delightful little warbler, 

 whose upper breast is of ultramarine blue, with a 

 light-coloured spot in the centre, is of almost equally 

 rare occurrence. It is well known in Continental 

 Europe, but its plumage varies in different localities 

 — a central red spot appearing upon the blue shield, 

 in place of the white or bay-coloured one. This 

 has given rise to the opinion that two or more 

 species exist. Years ago, the killing of a Blue- 

 throat upon British soil brought down upon the 

 vandals implicated a most scathing denunciation 

 from Ruskin. 



The Black Redstart, a dusky variant of the 

 common English form, although its occurrences are 

 now too numerous to quote, is still, except in certain 

 localities — the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and the 

 Isle of Wight being the most favoured, an extremely 



