414 



PASSERES. 



SYLVIID.^. 



SYLVIIDJE. 





Sylvia salicaria (Linnsens*). 

 THE GAKDEN- WARBLER. 



Ciimica hortensis^. 



The Garden-Warbler is another summer-visitor, in 

 habits closely resembling the Blackcap, next to be described, 

 being lively, active and restless, seldom remaining long in 

 any one place, generally secreting itself in dense foliage, 

 and oftener heard than seen, but sometimes singing from a 

 branch at the top of a tree. As a songster, it ranks only 

 after the Blackcap, but its melody is without the wild 

 irregularity and loud notes of that species. A good judge 

 of the comparative value of the songs of our birds has de- 

 scribed that of the Garden-Warbler as a continued strain of 

 considerable modulation, sometimes lasting for half an hour 

 at a time without a pause. Its notes are deep, harmonious 



* Motac ilia salicaria, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i p. 330 (1766). 

 t Motacilla hortensis, J. F. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i p. 955 (1788). 



