1676 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



in winter to hear a loud and abrupt burst of song, resembling that of a nightingale, 

 from a thick bush. The adult male has the upper parts rich russet brown; the eye 

 stripe is grayish white, but indistinct; the wings and tail are dark russet brown; the 

 chin and throat are white, shading into ashy gray on the sides of the breast and 

 into brownish gray on the flanks and upper tail coverts. 



To the same group belongs the Australian pheasant-tailed warbler (Stipiturus 

 malactirus) , distinguished by the elongation and peculiar structure of the three 

 central pairs of tail feathers. 



SEDGE WARBI.ER, CETTl'S WARBLER, AND FAN-TAILED WARBLER. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



Another group is represented by the fan-tailed warbler (Cisticola 

 Fan-Tailed , \ . f 



Warblers cursitans i > which is one of the smallest of the European reed war- 

 blers, and is easily recognized by its curved beak and fan-shaped tail. 

 It appears to reside all the year through in many parts of the Mediterranean coun- 

 tries, constantly frequenting swampy grounds, and obtaining its food near water. 



The members of the genus Accentor possess a fairly-strong bill, 

 broad at the base, with a nearly straight culmen, about half the length 

 of the head; the wings being long and pointed, and the tail nearly square. The 

 legs and feet are strong and generally adapted to progression over rocks and rough 



Accentors 



