NATURAL HISTORY. C-13 



doubling and redoubling of her voice, might well bo lifted 

 above earth, arid say, ' Lord, ivJmt music hast t)wu provided 

 for the saints in Heaven, ivhen thou affordest bad men such 

 music on earth /' " 



It must be borne in mind, that not only in this bird, but in 

 other singing birds, the male is the vocalist, so that Milton's 

 address to the " sweet songstress" is unfortunately not quite 

 so correct as poetical ; a misfortune of frequent occurrence. 



SYLVIA. (Proper name.) 



i W. 



Undata (Lat. wavy), the Dartford Warbler. 



The WARBLEIIS are spread over almost the entire globe, 

 and many gladden this country with their pleasant songs. 

 The Dartford Warbler derives its name from the place where 

 it was first noticed as a British bird. It is extremely small, 

 hardly larger than a wren, but the length of its tail increases 

 its apparent size. Furze-bushes form its usual residence. 

 There it may be seen hovering over the tops of the bushes, 

 uttering its curious quavering song, at the same time erecting 

 the feathers of its head, and puffing up its throat. It lays its 

 eggs in a nest carefully concealed in the centre of a furze- bush. 

 The eggs are of a greenish white, speckled with brown spots. 

 Its length is five inches. 



