CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 



147 



It is heard most frequently from the time of its arrival till the young birds break the shell ; after 

 that period it sings less, and with less energy, as its principal attention is necessarily directed to 

 the feeding of its brood. About midsummer its song ceases altogether, and one hears in the 

 woods only the twittering of the young birds, in their attempts to acquire the paternal song. In 

 confinement, birds which have been taken when old begin to sing as early as November, and do 

 not become entirely silent till Easter. The young birds, however, which have been reared from 

 the nest, will sometimes, if placed under good instruction, sing for seven months in the year. If 

 not hung where they can hear a good singer, they never acquire their natural song perfectly, but 

 intermix witli it notes of other birds ; while, on the other hand, if possessed of a good voice and 

 memory, they sometimes improve upon the instructions of their teacher. This, however, is a rare 

 occurrence, as out of twenty J'oung birds reared in the aviary, it is doubtful if even one prove a 

 thorouc'hly good singer. The best are those which are caught in August, just before their mi- 

 gration, and which, in the following spring, are put under the tuition of an accomplished singer." 



The Great Nightingale, *S^. i:)hilomela of Bechstein, is six inches and a half long, dark brown 

 above, and light below ; its song is less varied and less agreeable than the preceding ; found in 

 the eastern countries of Europe, and in Asia, along the borders of the Mediterranean. 



The Wood-Warbler, B. sylvicola: this is five and a quarter inches long; olive-green, tinged 

 with sulphur-yellow, above ; beneath white ; common in Middle and Southern Europe. 



The Willow-AVarbler, *S^. trochylus, is five inches long; dull olive-green above; beneath yel- 

 lowish-white ; common throughout Europe. This is the Willow Wren or Sylvia trochylus of 

 Nuttall ; the Reyulus trochylus of Dc Kay : said to be found also in the Southern States. 



The Melodious Willow-Warbler, S. hippolais^ is five and a half inches long; green, tinged 

 with ash-brown above; beneath sulphur-yellow; distinguished for its pleasing and varied song; 

 found throughout Europe. 



The Chiff-Chaff, S. rufa, is four and three-quarter inches long ; ash-brown above ; dull brown- 

 ish-white beneath ; found throughout Europe. 



The Rayed Warbler, S. nisoria of Bechstein — Fativctte Epcrvier of the French — is six and 

 a half inches long; inhabits the north of Europe ; the S. 2>rovincialis is four and half inches long; 

 is permanent in Southern Europe, and is accidentally found in France ; ;S^. Cetti — Rossignol des 

 Marais of the French — five inches long; found in Europe on the borders of the Mediterranean ; 

 the S.Jluviatilis, five and a half inches long; found on the borders of the Danube. 



r- 



TUE GKASSHOPPEE-WARBLEK. 



Genus SALIC ARIA : Salicaria.— This includes several species of Warbler, among wdiich we 

 may name the Grasshopper-Warbler, ;S'. locusfdla, deriving its name from its incessant cricket- 

 like note ; five and a half inches long ; greenish-brown above ; pale brown, spotted, beneath ; 

 found throughout Europe; the Thrush-like Warbler, S. furdoides, eight inches long; light 

 brown above ; white beneath ; found in Middle and Southern Europe ; the Sedge-Warbler, S. 



