384 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



men. and tinged wilh pale reddish-grey on the 

 breast and flanks deepening in colour towards 

 the vent ; the feet, toes and claws, lead-colour. 

 The female is scarcely distinguishable from the 

 male ; a little lighter colour on the l)ack, and 

 a more uniformly brownish-grey on the under 

 part Ijeing the only difference. 



Although rather a common bird, the Gartlen 

 Warbler is not very generally known on account 

 of its retiring disposition ; and ])erlKips, also. 



ild 



THK DAUr lOKI) WAKIIIKK 



from Ihe faci lh;il ils phiniage is not \i'ry 

 striking it has oflcn esea])e(l notice. Though 

 a visitor to most jiarts, it is more locally (lis- 

 Iributid lli;iii llic lUackcaj). though it extends 

 farther iiorlli tli;iii tliat l>ii'il. Fts exceedingly 

 fine song, liowcxcr. places it next the Blackcap 

 as a songster, the notes being especially deep 

 and fhite-like, and usually delivered from some 

 elevated position such as the toj) of a tree. 

 The song will last almost uninterruptedly for 

 nearly half an hour ; it is somewhat irregular 

 in time and lone, but It is certainly very sw-eet. 

 If disturbed or alarmed the bird will immediately 



cease singing, and drop stone-like from its 

 perch to the thicket, whence it makes ils way, 

 by hopping or flitting, out of reach. 



The Garden Warbler is a small bird rather 

 more stoutly built than a Blackcap, but not 

 quite so long. It frequents gardens, orchards, 

 and woods ; the nest is built near the ground 

 in a secluded spot, amongst nettles, in bramble 

 bushes or traveller's-joy when densely matted, 

 or in shrubberies with plenty of overhanging 

 foliage. The eggs are four or 

 five in number, very similar to 

 those of the Blackcap, except 

 that the markings are coarser 

 in api>earance. The Garden 

 Warbler's main 

 food consists of 

 caterpillars aiul 

 insects, as well as 

 their larvoe. In 

 the summer it 

 nd in the gardens 

 on currants, rasp- 

 other soft-skinned 

 is also very fond 

 rries. 



generally avoiding 

 the Garden Warbler 

 bird, and will take 

 cage, which should 

 described for the 

 Nightingale. It will agree 

 well with other birds, espe- 

 cially those of its class. II is 

 not at all dillicult to meat off, 

 the only fear being that it will 

 get over-fat, having a tendency 

 to that when in captivity, and 

 it is then, though apparently in 

 the best of condition, likely to 

 go off in a fit without any 

 warning. It does well on the 

 Blackcap diet; but (piite one- 

 half the menu should consist 

 of ripe fruit all the year round, 

 which will avert this over-fat 

 tendency. Thus fed. the bird 

 will live for years in the best of condition and 

 cheer all with its song. 



.\s with all the Warblers, variety of food is 

 a great feature in the treatment, and attention 

 to this alone may add several years to their 

 life. All the longest-lived birds we have 

 known received very frequent changes of 

 diet, and with such care bestowed on it the 

 Garden Warbler will not uiifrequeiitly sing, 

 with a very slight interval, during the whole of 

 the year. 



It is a useful bird for exhibilion. though not 

 often shown, and, as usual, good size, colour. 



