PERCHING BIRDS. 155 



journers, coming from afar, having left us during 

 the winter, driven away by the inclemency of 

 our skies, and returning in the genial season 

 to cheer us with their songs. 



Among them, there are four British aquatic spe- 

 cies. The two commonest are the SEDGE and the REED 

 WARBLER. Of these the reed warbler, or reed wren, 

 is well known, with its elegant and singularly-built 

 nest, interwoven among the reeds, and fastened to 

 their flexible twigs ; and so well-united and firmly 

 fixed, that it can bear to be rocked upon its bend- 

 ing supports. 



Of the SYLVAN WARBLERS, there are about ten or 

 eleven. Besides the nightingale, already men- 

 tioned, which stands first, the redstart, the com- 

 mon and lesser whitethroat, the blackcap, the 

 garden warbler and chiff-chaff, and the wood and 

 willow warblers, are the principal ; and there are, 

 moreover, two or three rare kinds. 



The REDSTART is common in most parts of the 

 kingdom, and frequents gardens and woods. It 

 has a way of rapidly expanding and closing the 

 tail, and this action is continued for several 

 seconds, on its alighting. It is an elegant little 

 creature, with its black, white, gray and flame 

 colours, and its graceful form and lively motions, 

 It bears a slight general resemblance to the red- 



