144 SYLVIIN^E. SYLVIA. 



derate length, with eighteen quills ; the first minute and 

 pointed, the third longest, the second and fourth very little 

 shorter; tail of moderate length, straight, slightly emarginate. 

 The Warblers are small, delicate, active, and lively birds, 

 which frequent woods, thickets, hedges, and gardens, feed on 

 insects and small fruits, and have a pleasantly modulated 

 song. Four species, all migratory, occur in Britain. 



78. SYLVIA HORTENSIS. GARDEN WARBLER. 



Upper parts light greyish-brown, tinged with olive ; wings 

 and tail dusky, margins of the quills and coverts of the same 

 colour as the back, the lateral tail-feathers like the rest ; lower 

 parts greyish-white, the breast and sides tinged with brown. 

 Young similar, but with the upper parts of a richer yellowish- 

 brown tint, the lower more tinged with yellow, the axillars 

 and lower wing-coverts pure yellow. 



Male, 6, 9 T V, 3J, fy, T 9 5 , if, / ? . Female, 5{f, 9. 



Arrives in the end of April and beginning of May, and is 

 generally dispersed in England, as well as the south of Scot- 

 land. It occurs chiefly in thickets, plantations, woods, and 

 gardens, and from its plain colours and unobtrusive habits, 

 attracts little attention. Its song is similar to that of the 

 Blackcap. It feeds on insects and worms, as well as pulpy 

 fruits, is extremely active and restless, rears two broods, and 

 departs by the middle of September. The nest is frequently 

 placed on the ground, and is loosely constructed. The eggs, 

 from four to six, are nine-twelfths long, six and a half twelfths 

 in breadth, dull white, dotted with light brown and grey. 



Fauvette. Garden Fauvet. Greater Pettychaps. Nettle- 

 creeper. 



Sylvia hortensis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 507. Sylvia hor- 

 tensis, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. i. 206. Sylvia hortensis, Garden 

 Warbler or Pettychaps, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, ii. 345. 



79. SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA. BLACKCAP WARBLER. 



Male with the upper parts light yellowish-grey, the head 

 black ; the lower parts ash-grey, paler behind, and tinged with 

 yellow ; wings and tail greyish-brown. Female similar, but 

 with the head reddish-brown. Young similar to the adult, 

 but with the head greyish-brown. 



Male, 6i, 9, 3 T V, T 5 ,, \%, &, T V Female, 6,V, 9J. 



Arrives in April and departs in September, is generally dis- 

 tributed in England, and occurs here and there in the south 



