226 BIRDS. INSECTIVOJUB. 



S. aquatica, Lath. Bog-rush Warbler. Plumage above brown; 

 with a band of yellowish white above the eyes, and another brOad- 

 er one from the base of the bill to the noddle of the head, the 

 spaces between them brown black ; scapulars and centre of the 

 back gray, with longitudinal blackish spots ; tail-feathers acumi- 

 nated, and the tail rounded. 4K inches long. Inhabits Europe. 

 Tern. Man. 188. 



S. phragmitis, Bechst. Sedge Warbler, Top of the head, back, and 

 scapulars olive-gray ; a broad band of yellowish white above the 

 eyes ; under parts of the body whitish yellow, tinted with red- 

 dish ; tail brown ash- coloured, slightly rounded. 4 inches long. 

 Inhabits Europe. B Selby, Illust. pi. 45**, fig. 2. 



S. arundinacea, Lath. Reed Warbler. Bill compressed at the base ; 

 plumage generally oil-green, tinged with reddish ; throat, breast, 

 and belly yellowish white ; tail cuneated, rather long ; hind toe 

 strong. 5 inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Selby, Illust. 

 pi. 45**, fig. 3. 



S. palustris, Bechst. Marsh Warbler. Bill broader than deep at the 

 base ; plumage above olive brown, the wings margined with cine- 

 reous ; a narrow yellowish white stripe above the eyes ; under parts 

 yellowish white. 5 inches long. Europe. Tern. Man. 192. 



S. Cetti, Marmora. Plumage above deep brown, slightly shaded 

 with red ; feathers of the wings and tail blackish brown ; be- 

 tween the bill and eyes an ash-coloured line ; throat white ; sides, 

 flanks, and thighs brown ; tail broad, with rounded feathers. 5 in- 

 ches long. Inhabits Sardinia. Tern. Man. 194. 



2. SYLVAN WARBLERS Tail square, or slightly forked at the end. 

 S. luscinia, Lath. Tern. (Motacilla luscima, Lin.) The Nightin- 

 gale. Plumage reddish brown above, cinereous white beneath ; 

 tail brownish-red ; third and fifth wing- feathers of equal length. 6 

 inches long. Inhabits Europe, migrating in winter to Egypt and 

 Syria Selby, Illust. pi. 46, fig. 1. 



The Nightingale, so justly celebrated for the sweetness and power of its song, 

 arrives in Britain towards the end of April or beginning of May. The males pre- 

 cede the females by an interval of ten days or a fortnight. The nightingale excels 

 ;,11 birds in the softness and mellowness, as well as in the duration, of its song. 

 Though heard to most advantage in the stillness of a fine evening, it also sings in 

 the day-time, but its tones are then blended with those of other birds, and conse- 

 quently not so readily distinguished. The Honourable Daines Harrington, who 

 kept a very fine nightingale for three years, and bestowed particular attention on its 

 musical faculties and exertions, ascertained that the sound of its song filled the cir- 

 cle of an English mile in diameter. The nightingale may be domesticated, though 

 not without considerable pains and difficulty. For this purpose it must be treated 

 with tenderness, and with favourite food, as the nymphge of ants, meal-worms, and 

 certain pastes, prepared by the dealers. In consequence of careful management, 

 its warble is rendered much superior to that of the wild nightingale, and is con- 

 tinued all the year round, except during moulting. 



S. philomela, Bechst. Plumage above grayish brown ; on the breast 

 clear gray, shaded with deeper colour ; throat whitish ; second 

 and third wing-feathers of nearly equal length. 6| inches long. 

 Inhabits Europe Tern. Man. 196. 



