126 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



CURRUCA HORTENSIS (Gmelin). 

 GAEDEN WAEBLEE. 



Visits us in summer and breeds with us, appearing 

 rather later than the blackcap warbler, and leaving 

 again in September. Somewhat local in its habits, this 

 species is nowhere very numerous ; indeed this, as well 

 as the blackcap warbler, are far scarcer here than in 

 more southern counties. I have rarely detected the 

 song of this warbler in summer in close vicinity to the 

 city, but in autumn, towards the end of August or 

 beginning of September, a pair or two, with their little 

 families (and the same may be said of the blackcap and 

 whitethroat), invariably appear amongst the shrubs in 

 my garden, betraying their presence by the same anxious 

 cries so aptly described by Mr. Blyth, as " resembling 

 the sound produced by tapping two small pebbles toge- 

 ther." This is evidently intended as a note of warning 

 to the young brood, always carefully concealed amongst 

 the thick foliage, their whereabouts being indicated 

 only by a rapid movement of the leaves, as they search 

 the branches for berries and insects. 



With reference to the varied notes of birds, a 

 quick eye and a good ear are not more essential 

 to the out-door naturalist than a good memory for 

 sounds ; in order to treasure up, not merely the usual 

 note or song of each species, but the strangely different 

 sounds emitted under particular circumstances by the 

 same bird. Taking our ordinary songsters as a class, 

 besides their true song, distinctive in character and 

 easily recognised, they have for the most part a call 

 note as well, such as the pink, pink, of the chaffinch ; 

 an alarm note, like the shrill chatter of the blackbird, 



