II02 



THE NATURE BOOK 



next strain may be a rather fierce-sounding 

 " r-r-r-r," ending abruptly, to be followed 

 by a phrase exactly resembling a Black- 

 bird's rattling alarm, but having a better 

 tone. There is one feature, however, 

 wliich raises the character of the song 

 above all others, and that is the magni- 

 ficent crescendo. This is particularly 

 noticeable in the strains composed of long 

 notes. 



The male Redstart is one of the most 

 handsome of our spring visitors, his white 

 forehead, black head and cheeks, con- 

 trasting well with the slaty blue of the 

 back and chestnut of the breast. The 

 fiery tail is at once seen when he flies off. 





WHhKE THE WILLOW WRENS WAKBLE. 



He and his more sober-coloured spouse 

 are very partial to the oak tree, in a hole 

 of which may be found the nest. 



From the top of a hawthorn the Black- 

 cap pours forth its beautiful song. This 

 warbler is considered by some a Nightin- 

 gale secundus. The male bird is recog- 

 nised by its black head and slaty plumage. 

 The female has a brown cap. The rapid 

 variations in pitch of the Blackcap's 

 song are remarkable, high notes and low 

 notes and medium ones being taken with 

 such quick alternation that the ear 

 can hardly follow. The singer is rather 

 shy. and often darts off when observed. 

 Though perhaps a less common bird 

 in the woods than 

 the Blackcap, the 

 song of the Garden 

 Warbler closely re- 

 sembles that of its 

 relative. The song- 

 ster itself is also of 

 similar plumage, 

 but without any 

 distinguishing cap. 

 The pitch of the 

 Garden Warbler's 

 full notes is often 

 very low for so 

 small a bird, and 

 equals the lowest 

 notes of the Black- 

 bird. 



An unobtrusive 

 little bird is our 

 dusky friend, the 

 Hedge - sparrow, or 

 Accentor. Being a 

 soft-billed bird, and 

 therefore not a real 

 sparrow, he fully 

 deserves more 

 attention than he 

 usually gets, for liis 

 song, though short, 

 is a sprightly little 

 warble, rapid and 

 with numerous 

 turns. Its nest is 

 always a h a p ]") y 

 find ; the beautiful 

 blue eggs seem to 

 reflect the azure of 

 the sky, and con- 

 trast charmingly 



