SYLVIIN^E. SIBILLATRIX. 153 



broader than high at the base, much compressed toward the 

 end ; upper mandible with the ridge narrow at the base, the 

 edges a little inflected, the notches slight, the tip very nar- 

 row ; gape-line nearly straight. Nostrils linear-oblong, per- 

 vious, in the fore part of the nasal membrane, which is 

 feathered behind. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of ear 

 large, roundish. Head ovato-oblong, flattened above, very 

 narrow before ; neck rather short ; body slender. Feet of 

 moderate length, tarsus rather long, extremely compressed, 

 with eight large distinct anterior scutella; toes extremely com- 

 pressed, the lateral equal and rather long, the hind toe large, 

 but shorter than the third, which is united with the fourth at 

 the base ; claws rather long, moderately arched, extremely 

 compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and 

 blended ; wings of moderate length, a little curved, broad, 

 rounded, of eighteen quills ; the first very small, the third 

 longest ; tail rather long, broad, graduated, nearly straight. 

 The extremely compressed bill, and fan-shaped tail, dis- 

 tinguish this genus, of which we have only one species. 



89. SIBILLATRIX LOCUSTELLA. GRASSHOPPER CHIRPER. 



Tail long, much graduated, and rounded ; plumage of the 

 upper parts dull olive-brown, with oblong dusky spots, of the 

 lower parts pale yellowish-brown, the fore part of the neck 

 with a few dusky lines, the tail-coverts with a central brown 

 mark. Female similar, but without the dusky lines on the 

 fore part of the neck. Young yellowish-brown, spotted with 

 dusky above, brownish-yellow beneath. 



Male, 5&, 7, 2, / 5 , {$, T 7 ^ . Female, 5 T \, 7. 



This slender and elegantly formed, but plainly coloured 

 little bird, is remarkable for its hideling habits, and its pecu- 

 liar cry, which greatly resembles that of the mole- cricket. It 

 arrives from the middle to the end of April, and is generally 

 dispersed in England. It has also been found in a few in- 

 stances in the south of Scotland. The nest is composed of 

 dry grass, lined with similar but finer materials. The eggs 

 in one found by Mr Weir in Linlithgowshire, were white, 

 closely freckled with carmine dots. 



Grasshopper Warbler. Cricket Bird. Brakehopper. 



Sylvia Locustella, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 515. Sylvia Locus- 

 tella, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. i. 184. Sibilatrix Locustella, 

 Grasshopper Chirper, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, ii. 399. 



