THE WHITE-BREASTED WARBLER. 383 



milk and bread. I have known them to feed on it the day they 

 were caught. Fresh meat, both fat and lean, they also like very 

 well for a change, and the yolk of a boiled egg, also a wasted 

 apple in winter ; they pick up a great quantity of small gravel, 

 of which there should be always a constant supply in their cage 

 or aviary ; if they are without this, they soon get unwell. Fresh 

 water should also be given them every day, in a saucer or pan, 

 large enough for them to get into, as oftentimes they wash them- 

 selves two or three times a day. 



" I have now a fine male bird of this species, that I have pos- 

 sessed between eight and nine years ; it still continues as lively, 

 and sings as well as ever ; it is a very desirable species, as it 

 never seems to mind the cold, and continues in song nearly all 

 the year.," 



150. THE WHITE-BREASTED WARBLER, OR BABILLARD. 



Motacilla Curruca, or La Fauvette Babillarde, BTJF. Die Geschwdtzige 

 Grasmuc&e, oder Das Mullerchen, BECH. 



Description. The Babillard is not unlike the bird last de- 

 scribed, in form and plumage, although smaller, and not so 

 rust coloured on the wings. It is five inches in length, of 

 which the tail measures two inches. The beak is five lines 

 long, sharp, and black, except on the lower . mandible, which 

 is blue ; the iris has an outer ring of yellowish white, and an 

 inner one of bright yellowish brown ; the feet are seven lines 

 in height, and blackish blue. The head and rump are dark 

 reddish grey ; the cheeks are somewhat darker than the head ; 

 and the rest of the upper part of the body grey, slightly tinged 

 with red. The under part of the body is white, with a reddish 

 grey hue on the sides of the breast. The small wing coverts 

 are light brown ; the larger wing coverts and pen feathers 

 dark brown, edged with reddish grey ; the tail dark brown, 

 the outermost feather having a wedge-shaped white spot, and 

 the others bordered with reddish grey. 



It is almost impossible to distinguish the female from the 

 male ; though if both sexes be seen at once, it may be per- 

 ceived that her head and feet are a little lighter in colour. 



Habitat. The Babillard is found in all parts of Europe, ex- 

 cept in the extreme north, and in Germany is one of the 

 commonest hedge birds. It is a bird of passage, arriving in 

 the middle of April, and taking its departure in September. 



