54 WRENS. -TITLARKS. 



25. The Faiivette, Mntacilla orphea, which is ashy brown 

 above, whitish beneath, is common in Kurope, and particularly 

 in the southern provinces of France, which it leaves in flocks, 

 about the middle of autumn, to return in the spring. It feeds on 

 insects and soft fruits, and makes its nest in the bushes or reeds ; 

 the male has a strong, sonorous voice, which is not disagreeable. 

 Its song, says Buffon, somewhat resembles that of the Nightin- 

 gale, and is enjoyed for a long time ; for, many weeks after the 

 songster of the spring-time is hushed, the woods every where re- 

 sound with the song of thefauvette; its voice is smooth, pure, 

 and light, and its succession of modulations, though of small ex- 

 tent, are agreeable, flexible, and graduated 



26. The Wrens, liiyi/vs, are little birds that keep on trees, 

 and there pursue gnats. The lioitelet, or Kinglet, Motacilta 

 regains, is the smallest of European birds; the head of the male 

 is adorned with a small yellow tuft bordered with black. 



27. These birds possess a great deal of activity and agility ; 

 they are almost always in motion ; they leap from branch to branch, 

 climb trees on all sides, they eagerly hunt in all the crack? .-if the 

 bark, and sometimes they suspend themselves, feet upwarus like 

 the torn-tit ; they feed on insects, little worms and various small 

 grains. The female lays from ten" to eighteen eggs which scarcely 

 exceed a large pea in size ; her nest of leaves is placed on the 

 branches of the fir-tree, in such a mariner as to be swayed in all 

 directions by the wind. 



28. The True Wrens Troglodytes, have the middle toe 

 rather long, and the nails of moderate length. They are remark- 

 able for their almost domestic habits, often building from prefer- 

 ence about houses, either empty or inhabited ; they also sing 

 agreeably ; species are found on both continents. The House. 



Wren, Troglodytes acdou, Sylvia domattira, is only a sum 

 mer resident of the United States; but the Winter Wren, 

 Troglodytes hyemalis, sometimes passes the winter in Penn- 

 sylvania. 



29. The Wag-tails, Motacilla t are remarkable for the length 

 of their tail, which they are constantly elevating and depressing. 



30. The Meadow Larks, or Titlarks, Jiuthus, somewhat 

 resemble the larks, (JHmtda) on account of the long nail with 

 which their thumb is armed. 



25. What arf the habits of the Fauvetie 1 



26. Wh;.t are Wrens? 



27. What are ihe habits of Wrens ? 



28. What are ihe ch trac ers of the true Wrens 1 



29. How arc the Wag-tails characterised ? 



30. In what respect do the Mea low Larks resemble the Larki? 



