BECHSTEIN'S ACCOUNT. 47 



Fauvets, being open and of slight construction, but, as 

 might be supposed from the size of the bird, is consider- 

 ably smaller. It may also always be distinguished by 

 being lined with small roots. It is situated in low bushes, 

 brambles, thick hedges or brakes, generally near the 

 ground, but sometimes several feet above it. The eggs, 

 usually five, are greyish white, spotted and patched with 

 grey and brown ; they are about two thirds of an inch 

 long. Its food consists of different kinds of insects and 

 their larvae, with which it supplies its young in great 

 abundance. 



Blyth notices that it is particularly partial to fruit, 

 especially cherries, and says 1 1 have repeatedly noted as 

 many as eight or ten together feeding on elder-berries.' 

 He also observes that ' it is a remarkably garrulous and 

 tyrannical species in confinement, attacking birds more 

 than twice its size ;' and that in its natural state he has 

 seen it driving away its congener, the White-throated Fau- 

 vet, with which bird it seems Montagu, in his ' Ornitho- 

 logical Dictionary,' confounds this Warbler, as do several 

 others, owing probably to its shy habits and comparative 

 scarcity. 



Bechstein says that l throughout Germany this bird is 

 called the Little Miller, because some peculiar notes of its 

 song are supposed to resemble the noise of a mill Map, 

 klapy Idap, klap ! It is commonly thought that this is the 

 whole of its song, whereas in the variety and beauty of its 

 notes, though very soft and not very pure in tone, it sur- 

 passes all other Warblers. While singing, it leaps from 

 twig to twig of the thick underwood, but pauses for a 

 moment when it comes to the final Map, and gives it out 

 with expanded throat and considerable effect.' Here is 

 Sweet's picture of its habits as a domestic bird : l One 

 that I bred up from the nest became so attached to its cage 

 that it could not be prevailed upon to quit it for any length 

 of time. When the door of it was put open, it would 

 generally come out quickly, and first perch on the door, 

 then mount to the top of the cage, and from thence it 

 would fly to the top of any other cages that were in the 

 room, and catch any flies that carne within its reach. 



