BIRDS. 149 



to hear sing. Sometimes it resembles the Thrush, 

 then the Robin, and at another time the Lark ; and 

 yet those who study the language of birds declare it to 

 be no imitator, but that its own natural melody com- 

 bines the beauties of all into one harmonious strain. 



The Garden Warbler, 1 or Pettychaps, leads a quiet, 

 retired life while it stays with us in the summer 

 amongst thick brambles, and the undergrowth in 

 woods and plantations, whence it rambles into the 

 gardens which may be in the neighbourhood. It 

 never seerns to be so common as the Blackcap, but is 

 widely dispersed. 



Two of the commonest of our warblers are the White- 

 throat, 2 and the Lesser White-throat. 3 The former 

 is the most common of the two. Both are probably 

 greater lovers of quiet lanes and hedgerows than 

 woods. Their lively habits render them amusing 

 objects. "If you happen to approach its nest, it 

 comes up scolding vehemently, with a churring sort 

 of voice, and flits about until you leave the place, 

 attempting by short flights to induce you to pursue it, 

 when it flies along the hedge before you. Its song is 

 often heard very late at night, and is amongst the 

 earliest that come on the ear in the fine summer 

 mornings. If you be walking along a hedge in the 

 early twilight, the little creature is sure to come up, 

 announcing its presence by its song, and flitting in 

 advance for, perhaps, a long way." Like most war- 

 blers, they are only summer visitors. 



There are only three other warblers to which it is 



1 Sylvia hortensis. 3 Sylvia curruca. 



2 Sylvia cinerea. 



