THE BIRDS 3 



A description of less than half of the Passerine birds would 

 more than fill a volume the size of this work, and it is impossible 

 to do more than notice briefly a few among the many interesting 

 families belonging to the order. But for bird-lovers there are a 

 host of books to be had, written by noted authorities on the 

 subject. 



The Thrush tribe (Turdidce) is a typical group of perching 

 birds, and representatives of the family are to be found in almost 

 all parts of the world. It includes the familiar Thrushes and their 

 allies, the Turdincz ; the Warblers, Sylviincs ; and the Mocking- 

 birds, Mimincz ; though by some authorities each of these divisions 

 are treated as separate families. To the Turdinse belong some 

 of our most accomplished singing birds the Song Thrush, Missel 

 Thrush, Blackbird, Nightingale and Robin while the Redstart 

 and the Redwing have sweet though not powerful voices. They 

 are typically woodland birds, frequenting almost all parts of the 

 country, invading even the garden on the outskirts of the towns. 

 The Nightingale, the most noted of songsters, is chiefly confined 

 to the south-eastern parts of England, and is partial to cultivated 

 areas such as parks and old gardens, as well as the outskirts of 

 woods. It arrives in April ; its wonderful song is heard throughout 

 the month of May should the weather be warm, and ceases early 

 in June. Contrary to the general idea the Nightingale's song is 

 not confined to the hours of night ; the bird sings equally well in 

 the daytime, but, owing to the joyful chorus kept up by other 

 singing birds during those hours in the springtime of the year, 

 its voice is not so noticeable. The nest made by the Tur dines 

 is cup-shaped, and the young birds are usually distinguished by 

 having spotted breasts. The Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, and 

 Hedge Sparrow also belong to this division. Many species are 

 migratory, and the food consists chiefly of insects, worms and, 

 in the case of the Thrush, of snails, which they often take to some 

 favourite stone to crack the shells. 



The Warblers are distinguished from the thrushes by moulting 

 twice in the year (their allies only shedding their feathers at the 

 end of the summer season). They are principally birds of the 

 Old World, and the majority are migratory and capable of very 

 protracted flight. In Britain there are twelve regular summer 

 visitors, amongst which are the Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 



