5 02 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



Cetti's warbler is resident throughout the year. It sings in every month, and it 

 is somewhat startling in winter to hear a loud and abrupt burst of song, resembling 

 that of a nightingale, from a thick bush. The adult male has the upper-parts rich 

 russet-brown ; the eye stripe is greyish white, but indistinct : the wings and tail 

 are dark russet-brown ; the chin and throat are white, shading into ashy grey on 

 the sides of the breast, and into brownish grey on the flanks and upper tail-coverts. 

 To the same group belongs the Australian pheasant-tailed warbler (Stipitwruii 

 wialacurus), distinguished by the elongation and peculiar structure of the three 

 central pairs of tail-feathers. 



i 



Pf 



\ //'/v F ^C 



PHEASANT-TAILED WARBLER. 



Fan-Tail 

 Warblers. 



Accentors. 



Another group is represented by the fan-tailed warbler (Cisticola 

 cursitans), which is one of the smallest of the European reed- warblers, 

 and is easily recognised by its curved beak and fan-shaped tail. It appears to 

 reside all the year through in many parts of the Mediterranean countries, constantly 

 frequenting swampy grounds, and obtaining its food near water. 



The members of the genus Accentor possess a fairly strong bill, 

 broad at the base, with a nearly straight culmen, about half the 

 length of the head ; the wings being long and pointed, and the tail nearly square. 

 The legs and feet are strong and generally adapted to progression over rocks 

 and rough surfaces; while the plumage is generally dark brown, varied with 

 rufous. Belonging to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, the accentors 

 usually inhabit mountain ranges, although the hedge-sparrow frequents bushes 

 and scrub. Common among the mountains of Europe, the Alpine accentor 



