12 GARDEN WARBLER. 



flanks ash-grey ; upper parts grey, tinged with olive ; under 

 parts ash-grey, paler on abdomen. Bill horn-brown. Legs 

 lead-colour. Length 5| in. Female : chocolate-brown head, 

 and rather browner colour generally. Young : like female until 

 the young male assumes the black head. 



Language. On its first arrival it records or rehearses its 

 song in a sotto voce till early May, when the true song is com- 

 menced, which is second only to the Nightingale, and reminds 

 one of a piccolo. It has certain powers of ventriloquism 

 and mimicry. Alarm-note, a harsh "tac." When angry it 

 scolds rather like the Whitethroat. 



Habits. It loves to sing perched in its shady brambly home. 

 Song ceases when young are hatched ; the cock bird assists in 

 incubation. Very restless and shy, like others of the family. 

 Flight rather hesitating. 



Pood. Insects and their larvse, spiders, soft fruits (espe- 

 cially raspberries and currants), also berries. 



Nest. May. 



Site. Low down in thick bush, in nettles and brambles and 

 privets, and other situations. 



Materials. Dry grass and fibres, lined with horsehair a 

 slight structure. 



Eggs. Dirty white, or light red spotted and blotched with 

 dark red and ruddy brown; variable. Smaller than Garden 

 Warbler's. 



GARDEN WAEBLER (Sylvia hortensis). 



Migrant ; May to September. Less abundant than last, but 

 generally distributed. Kare in Ireland, Cornwall, and some 

 parts of Wales. 



Haunts. Like last, but where the Blackcap is scarce the 

 Garden Warbler is frequently common, and vice versa. 



Observation. Distinguish from last by absence of black 

 crown. 



Plumage. Upper parts olive -brown, darker on wings and 

 tail ; faint light streak over eye ; area at back of eyes ash- 

 grey ; under parts buffish white ; under tail-coverts white. 

 Bill brown. Legs lead-colour. Length 5f in. Female similar 

 but paler. Young rather greener than adults. 



Language. Much like the Blackcap's, but lower in tone and 

 more mellow and continuous. Alarm-note, a harsh " tac." 



Habits. Very similar to last. It is a close sitter, and when 

 flushed it dives in the undergrowth, fidgeting about and 

 uttering its alarm-note. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, small soft fruits 

 and berries. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



