PERCHING-BIRDS. 



121 



(21 18 a), the Rufous (2117), Aquatic (2122), Great Reed- (shewn with 

 its nest at the foot of the Case) (2141 ), Melodious (2133), Icterine (2132), 

 and Radde's Warblers (2 14 2), the Northern (2 145 a), Greenish (2152), 

 Pallas' (2153), and the Yellow-browed (2154) Willow- Warblers, the 

 Northern Chiff chaff (2143 a), the Sub-alpine (2155), Barred (2156), 

 Orphean (2157), Sardinian (2157 a), and Cetti's (2157 b) Warblers; 

 while Savi's Warbler (2158), to be seen with its nest at the foot of 

 the Case, formerly bred in the Eastern counties of England, but has 

 disappeared since the draining of the fens. The Tailor-birds (Sutoria) 

 (2124) are specially interesting on account of the skill they display in 

 the construction of their nests. By sewing the edges of one or more 

 leaves together they form a pocket in which they build a nest of fine 

 grass, cotton, down, and hair. 



Far the most brilliant forms are found among the beautiful little 

 species of the genus Malurus (2159-63), chiefly found in Australia ; and 

 the Emu- Wren (Stipiturus malachurus) (2167) from the same country 

 is worthy of note, on account of its long spiny tail-feathers with curious 

 decomposed webs. 



Family XII. VIREONID^E. GREENLETS. 



This small family, including about sixty arboreal species, mostly [Case 75.] 

 olive or greenish in colour, is peculiar to the New World. Though 

 evidently allied to the Shrikes, which they resemble in the notched bill 

 beset with bristles, the young in first plumage do not differ much from 

 the adults and are never barred, and in this and other respects they 

 resemble the Warblers. The species of Vireo (2174-7) suspend their 

 firm cup-shaped nest from a horizontal fork and lay white eggs, spotted 

 with red and purple. 



Family XIII. AMPELID^;. CHATTERERS. 



The Chatterers form a somewhat ill-defined family, belonging to the [Case 76.] 

 group of Passeres, which possesses only nine primary quills. They are 

 chiefly northern in their habitat, but certain tropical genera are found 

 in North and Central America. The best known of the Chatterers is 

 the Wax wing (Ampelis garrulus) (2179), which is found in the northern 

 parts of both hemispheres and occasionally visits Britain in some 

 numbers. Its name is derived from the sealing-wax-like tips of the 

 secondary quills. The movements of this species are very irregular and 

 uncertain; on the approach of winter it appears here and there in 

 immense flocks in quest of seeds and berries. The nest is made of 

 twigs and moss lined with feathers, and the eggs are stone-grey, spotted 

 with blackish-brown. Another well-known species is the American 

 Cedar-bird (A. cedrorum) (2180). 



