49 8 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



Icterine Warbler. . 



As an example of another genus differing from Sylvia by the 

 'length of the beak from the gape exceeding (instead of falling short 

 of) the third toe and its claw, may be mentioned the icterine warbler (Hypolais 

 philomela)', eight other species of the genus being known. Annually visiting 

 temperate Europe south of the Baltic, the icterine warbler is a graceful slender bird, 

 and on its first arrival may be observed flitting actively about the lower branches 

 of trees and bushes in quest of insect prey. Although in coloration this warbler 

 bears some resemblance to the willow-warblers, it does not form a dome to its nest 

 like those birds, nor does it build near the ground. On the contrary, its pretty 

 nest is of dry stems of grass interwoven with moss, wool, and other materials, in 

 some small tree, generally eight or ten feet from the ground. The eggs are brownish 



THE REED WARBLER. 



pink in ground-colour, spotted with dark purplish brown. Mr. Seebohm gives the 

 following description of the song of the icterine warbler : " Perhaps on the whole 

 the song of the common tree-warbler comes nearest to that of the marsh- warbler, 

 but often it reminds you strongly of the sedge-warblers. At other times you may 

 trace a fancied resemblance to the chirping of the sparrow, the scolding of the 

 whitethroat, or the scream of the swift." The adult male in spring is olive-green 

 above, the wings and tail are brown, the under-parts are uniformly of a very 

 beautiful and delicate yellow. The female is identical in plumage with her mate 

 but rather duller. 



Yet another genus (Acrocephalus) of warblers is typically repre- 

 ' sented by the reed-warbler, and is distinguished from all the foregoing 



