BIRDS. INSECTVOIU*. 



S. provincial**, Gmel. Dartford Warbler. All the upper parts, 

 with the exception of the tail, fine deep gray ; throat and flanks 

 reddish purple or wine-coloured; belly white; wing-feathers black 

 on their interior webs, very short. 5 inches long. Inhabits Eu- 

 rope. B. Selby, Illust. pi. 46, fig. 6. 



S. passerina, Lath. Top of the head, cheeks, and neck, clear ash-co- 

 lour ; upper parts of the body olive, with the coverts fringed with 

 reddish ; front of the neck, breast, and flanks red; throat and 

 centre of belly white ; tail-feathers, except the middle four, tipped 

 with white. 4j inches long. South of Europe. Tern. Man. 213. 



S. subalpini, Bonelli. Plumage above ash-coloured ; below vinous- 

 red, with the centre of the belly white ; tail nearly black, slightly 

 rounded. 4 inches long. Tern. Man. 214. 



S. rubecula, Lath. The Redbreast Warbler. Plumage above of a 

 gray olive-brown ; forehead, space between the eye and the bill, 

 front of the neck and breast, lively red, margined with smoke 

 gray ; belly white. 5 J inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Selby, 

 Illmt. pi. 46, fig. 2. 



The Redbreast is a solitary bird, and is never found associating in numbers to- 

 gether, even during its partial migrations. It is widely diffused, being found through 

 the greater part of Europe ; and its general familiarity and confiding manners have 

 attracted peculiar notice. In Britain the popular ballad of the Bales in the Wood 

 has tended to protect the redbreast's nest; and its premature approach to houses 

 in autumn is held the precursor of an early winter. The redbreast feeds on worms 

 and insects, makes its nest in mossy banks or shady thickets, and lays from five 

 to seven eggs, of a pale yellowish gray, with pale reddish-brown spots. The red- 

 breast's notes are heard among the latest in the evening, and it commences its warble 

 in the morning sooner than most other birds. 



S. Suecica, Lath. Tern. (Molacilla Suecica, Lin.) Blue-throated 

 Warbler. Plumage above rust-coloured; breast striped with blue; 

 tail-feathers brown, and black towards the base. 5 J inches long. 

 Inhabits Northern Europe. Tern. Man. 217- 



S. tithys, Scopoli. The Red -tail Warbler. Plumage above bluish 

 ash-colour ; space between the bill and eye, cheeks, throat, and 

 breast deep black, shading to bluish-ash on the belly, and blue 

 on the flanks ; lower coverts of the tail, rump, and tail-feathers 

 red ; large coverts of the wings bordered with white. 5 inches 

 long. Inhabits Northern Europe. Tern. Man. 218. 



S. phcenicurus. Lath. Tern. (Motacilla, Lin.) Red-start Warbler. 

 Forehead and eyebrows pure white ; a band at the base of the 

 bill, space between that and the eye, throat, and neck black ; 

 under parts of the body orange-red. 5 inches long. Inhabits 

 Europe. B Selby, Illust. pi. 46, fig. 3. 



S. Hippolais, Lath. Lesser Petty-chaps. Plumage greenish-ash 

 above, primrose yellow beneath ; eyebrows white. Inhabits Eu- 

 rope. B Selby, Illust. pi. 47, fig. 1. 



S. sibilatrix, Bechst. Wood Wren. Top ofthe head and upper parts 

 sulphur, yellow ; forehead and eye-streak yellowish ; under parts 

 white ; tail slightly forked, brownish. 4 inches long. Inhabits 

 Europe. B. Selby, Illust. pi. 47, fig- 2. 



