THE GAEDEN WARBLER. 157 



little inferior to that of tlie blackcap, being rich 

 and flute-like in its tones. It is often heard from 

 the tree of the shrubbery, or from that of the large 

 garden, where, amid the foliage, the bird may 

 sing unseen, or gambol about among the trees, 

 chasing its companions or the winged insect. It 

 is very elegant and gTaceful in its movements, but 

 will rarely give us an opportunity of watching it, 

 except at a distance, though it is abundant, not 

 only in gardens and shrubberies, but in copses 

 and hedgerows : like the blackcap, it is migi'atory, 

 and comes and departs at about the same season 

 as that bird. William Howitt has a word in favour 

 of it, and other of om- little birds : — ■ 



" Come ye, come ye to the green green wood, 



Loudly the blackbird is singing ; 

 The squirrel is feasting on blossom and beech, 



And the curled fern is springing : 

 Here you may sleep, in the wood so deep, 



W^here the moon is so warm and so weary ; 

 And sweetly awake, when the sun, through the brake. 



Bids the fauvette and whitethroat sing cheery." 



Shy and wary as it is in its wild state, the garden 

 warbler soon becomes reconciled to confinement, 

 and is described by Mr. Sweet as one of the most 

 delightful and pleasing birds that can be ima- 



