THE GARDEX WARBLER. 79 



yellowish-grey colour, blotched and blotted with markings 

 of dark purplish-brown. 



The Garden Warbler is migratory, arriving in this 

 country about the beginning of May, and taking its de- 

 parture in August or September, though sometimes 

 specimens are taken later. It is found pretty generally 

 throughout Europe. In our own country it is rarely seen 

 in Cornwall, and in Derbyshire it is sparingly distributed, 

 but in most of the other counties it is a tolerably well- 

 known bird. In Ireland it is extremely rare. Like the 

 Blackcap and Nightingale, on their arrival in this country 

 the birds fly straight to their last year's nesting-place, the 

 males preceding the females by about a week ; and it is at 

 this time that their song is heard to perfection. On their 

 return-migration they generally stay for a few days in 

 any garden where they can find any soft-skinned fruit. 

 We have many times seen more than a dozen in a small 

 garden, feeding on the currants or raspberries, which they 

 swallow whole. When disturbed they fly off individually, 

 but generally only to the next bush or some neighbouring 

 trees. At this time of year they are very tame, and will 

 come within a few yards, and it is almost impossible to 

 keep them from the fruit, of which they consume a great 

 deal. 



The length of this pretty little songster is about six 

 inches. The bill is dusky-brown, the base and edges of the 

 lower mandible light brown, the inside of the mouth being a 

 reddish-pink ; the iris is dark brown, with a small whitish 

 mark over and in front of the eye ; the head is pale brown 

 on the sides ; the crown, nape, and back of the neck is a 

 light greyish-brown, with a faint olive tinge ; the chin 

 and throat are yellowish- white ; the lower part of the 



