PERCHING BIRDS. 61 



placed in a bush in the forest about four feet from the 

 ground, and contained three eggs. Their ground colour 

 is pale greenish blue ; two of them are speckled and 

 dashed all over with reddish brown, but the other has 

 the markings more closely distributed, and at the larger 

 end they form a confluent zone, having a suffused 

 appearance, and quite concealing the ground colour. 



Another pair were seen at the decoy at Houghton on 

 the 6th of April, 1858, but, with the usual fate of rare 

 birds, they were shot, or I have no doubt they would 

 have bred also. 



A male in immature plumage, with the crescent on 

 the breast distinctly marked in light brown feathers 

 intermingled with one or two of a still lighter shade, 

 was shot at Edwinstowe on the 26th of November, 

 1856, 



These are all the instances of its occurrence with us 

 that I am aware of. 



The numerous family of the warblers is a very attrac- 

 tive one. The sweetness of the song of the majority, 

 their compact and sprightly appearance, and the liveli- 

 ness of their manners, combine to make them general 

 favourites. The greater part of them are closely 

 associated with the spring and summer seasons, and we 

 are accustomed to look forward to their arrival with 

 great pleasure. 



The unpretending dunnock, or Hedge Sparrow 

 (Accentor modularis), in its neat and sober-coloured 

 dress, is common, as it is everywhere. It cannot be 

 called gregarious, seldom more than two or three being 

 seen together or near each other. It is always busy, 

 though never in a hurry, and seems an especial pattern 

 of that valuable qualification of minding one's own busi- 



