OF SELBORNE. 205 



respect to the swallow tribe, which increases prodi- 

 giously as the summer advances: and I saw, at the 



towards the middle of May, when it is readily detected by its loud song, 

 which I believe is often mistaken for that of the blackbird ; this it con- 

 tinues the greater part of the time it stops with us, which is seldom later 

 than the beginning of September, sometimes not later than the end of 

 August. While in this country its food is chiefly fruit and berries : when 

 none can be procured, caterpillars, moths, and butterflies are substituted 

 instead, and with those it chiefly brings up its young. I have had a bird 

 of this species in perfect health in a cage for seven years:. 



The Grasshopper Warbler, (Salicaria Locustella, SELB.) The present 

 species is known amongst bird-catchers by the name of the grasshopper 

 lark, as it was originally placed amongst the larks by ornithologists : 

 but it has been very properly removed from them by later authors, as it 

 wants the most characteristic mark of that family, namely, its long claw. 

 It is a very rare bird in the neighbourhood of London*, and I have never 

 been able to procure but one of them, which I lost the first winter by let- 

 ting it wash too much : in confinement it requires the same sort of ma- 

 nagement as recommended for the last species, and it will succeed very 

 well. I am not acquainted with their song, never having lived in any 

 neighbourhood where they visit, but I have been credibly informed that 

 they have none, but a note like the chirping of the grasshopper : this may 

 probably be the case ; but I have often heard the same report of some of 

 our finest songsters, which people had confused with very common birds, 

 there being very few who do not confuse under the general name of white- 

 throats the common flycatcher, both whitethroats, the greater pettychaps, 

 the blackcaps when young, and many even confuse with these the wil- 

 low wren, the wood wren, and lesser pettychaps. This tribe of birds, 

 being only summer visitants, are less known than any others. 



These birds are not uncommon in several parts of England, they are 

 said to be plentiful on Malmesbury Common, Wiltshire, in summer, 

 where they breed ; they are also frequently seen in Norfolk and Suffolk, 

 and in various other parts, where they build their nest among some high 



* I have seen a great number of these birds on a furzy piece of ground 

 in Acton near London, by the side of the Paddington Canal. The furze 

 was thick and tall at the lower end of the common near the water, and 

 the male birds continued uttering their singular song on all sides of me, 

 sitting on the tallest branches of the furze ; but, the moment I tried to 

 approach any one of them, it secreted itself in the thicket underneath. 

 They frequented no other part of the common, and the furze in that quar- 

 ter having been since cut down, not one was to be seen there the following 

 year. When it shall have grown to a sufficient height, the birds will pro- 

 bably resort there again in the breeding season. They must be sought 

 where the ground is rather spongy and covered with thick furze in the 

 neighbourhood of water. I have seen a nest of the young brought into 

 London. Those who wish to discover the nest, must attack the furze 

 thicket, where it is carefully secreted. W. H. 



