106 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



brown. The plumage of the female is much the 

 same as the male, except that the upper part of the 

 head is reddish brown. Young birds resemble the 

 female, except that the brown on the head is not so 

 conspicuous. 



The egg is about the size of that of the Hedge- 

 sparrow, but a little rounder : it has a dull white 

 ground, much smeared with light brown, and there 

 are a few specks of much darker brown. 



GARDEN WARBLER, Curruca hortensis. This shy 

 unassuming little Warbler is perhaps more common 

 in our county than is usually supposed ; its shyness 

 and the quiet plainness of its dress, together with its 

 likeness to some of our other Warblers, causing it 

 to be overlooked or mistaken. It is probably occa- 

 sionally killed by an irate gardener when found 

 amongst his peas, of which, by the bye, it is rather 

 fond, and thrown away as " one o' them White- 

 throats." Montagu mentions its being found both 

 in Devonshire and Somersetshire ; and Yarrell says 

 it is found as far west as Devonshire. The pair 

 I have in my collection were taken near Taunton. 



This bird is the " Fauvette Pettychaps" of Bewick. 

 It is rather a late summer visitor, not arriving until 

 the end of April or beginning of May. In song it is 

 said to be scarcely inferior to the Nightingale. It 

 frequents thick hedges, shrubberies and gardens. 



The food of this bird consists of insects, peas 

 and various fruits (cherries in particular) and some 



