PASSERIN.E. 191 



reddish-brown above, yellowish beneath, the throat white. [Tliis species, which passes for a good songster 

 though extremely comraon on the opposite coast of Holland, has not yet been detected in the British islands. A 

 nearly allied species (.S. olivetorum, Strickland), which is rather smaller, is common in Syria. The rest are con- 

 siderably less, and there is one of these, a miniature of 5. furdoides, which is very common, though local, in South 

 Britain, migrating in winter, as do all the rest : the .V. arundinacea, Auct. They are the Calamoherpe, Meyer. 



Other species have smaller bills, and are generally striated on the back, with longitudinal whitish streaks on the 

 head, the Calamodyta, Bonap. Among them we find] 



The Sedge Babbler (Jilot. salicaria, Lin. ; [S. phrapmitis, Auct.] ) ; distinguished by a conspicuous whitish streak 

 over each eye. [This bird is also a common summer visitant in Britain, more generally distributed than the 

 Reed Babbler (S. arundinacea) ; and is remarkable for the spaiTOw-like tone of many of its chirpings, wiiich has 

 induced an erroneous opinion that it is an imitator or mimic. Tliere are several others. 



Some species, not far removed from the Babblers, are remarkable for the absence of bristles at the gape (which 

 in the latter are rather conspicuous), for their graduated tail, composed of broad, soft feathers, their deli- 

 cately-formed feet, w ith straight claws, and particularly for the singularity of their note, which consists of a pro- 

 longed sibilant trill, somewhat resembling that of the Mole-cricket. They compose the Locitstella of Gould, of 

 which three species inhabit Europe. Such, in Britain, is 

 Ray's Locustelle (L. Rail, Auct.), or the Grasshopper Warbler of many writers, (fig. 88), the doisal plumage of 

 which is coloured like that of the AVater Rail. It is common in many districts of this 

 country, as a summer visitant, frequenting furze-brakes and other dense cover, 

 where its singular voice is heard at all hours, but principally at dusk : while utter- 

 ing this sound, it gapes very widely, and sometimes continues to emit it when 

 flitting from bush to bush, or even hovering in the air. A larger species (L. flu- 

 viatilis), common on the reedy margins of the Danube, utters precisely the same 

 sound. The Si/lvin cert/dola, Tern., of eastern Europe, constitutes the third. 



Those which inhabit sylvan districts have, in general, stouter bills, and all feed 

 more or less upon fruit, of which some are great devourers. They are verj- distinct 

 from the foregoing, and several are delicate songsters. Such, in the British 



I'iL'. SS.— Kays Locustelle. . , 



'' ' isles, are 



The Blackcap Fauvet (Currttca airicapilla, Auct.)— Olive-brown above, ash-colour on the neck and lower parts, 

 becoming whitish on the throat and belly ; a black, or, in the female and young, reddish-brown cap on Hie head. 

 One of the finest of our native vocalists, remarkable for the melody of the loud clear whistle with which it tenni- 

 nates its lays. It inhabits gardens and the outskirts of woods, arrives early in spring, and is very frugivorous. 



The Garden Fauvet (C. hortensis) resembles the Blackcap in form, except that it is rather shorter ; its head is 

 of the same colour with the back, and there is a little grey on the sides of the neck. This species is remarkable 

 for the deep mellow tones of its voice, arrives late in spring, and is similar in all its habits to the preceding. 



The other British species have white on the exterior tail-feathers, and pertain to a group the members of which 

 are mostly less arboreal, frequenting low bushes. 



The Wliite-breasted Fauvet (C. garrula) is, however, often heard from the summits of high trees, having nearly 

 the same habits as the Blackcap. It is smaller than the preceding, with a proportionally more slender bill ; and 

 ashy-brown above, pure grey on the head and neck, silvery white below, the feet lead-coloured. Is common in 

 gardens, and has a low warbling song, with a loud inharmonious finish. 



The Whitethroat Fauvet (C. cinerea), is larger and browner than the last, with some mahogany-colour on the 

 wings ; feet yellowish. Ihis species, exceedingly common about hedges and low brake, is seldom seen upon trees, 

 and is an inferior chattering songster, that often ascends singing to a small height in the air, with peculiar ges- 

 ticulations. Lastly, 



The Long-tailed Fauvette {C.provincialis), made into a genus MelizopMIus by Leach, on account of its shorter 

 wings and more graduated tail, wherein it only differs in a slight degree from some others, as C. Sarda, &c., is 

 remarkable for being resident throughout the year in furze-brakes in some parts of the south of England. Its 

 manners exactly resemble those of the Whitethroat. Colour dark ashy-brown, vinaceous-red below. 



There are several continental species allied to all the above.] 



Bechstein has separated from the Fauvettes 



The Dunnocks {Accentor, B.), — 

 The beak of which, still slender, but more exactly conical than that of other Bee-fins [and also rather 

 sharply pointed], is slightly retracted at the edges. Their gizzard also is more fleshy. 



The Alpine Dunnock (Mot. alpina, also Sturnus alpinus and St. collaris, Gm.).— An ashy-coloured bird [mixed 

 with brown], with a white throat sprinkled with black, two ranges of white spots on the wing, and some bright 

 rufous on the flanks. It inhabits the pastures of the high Alps, where it feeds on insects, descending however in 

 winter into the plains to pick up grain. [A species of rare occurrence in the British islands.] 



The Hedge Dunnock (Mot. modularis, Lin.), [currently termed the Hedge Sjmrroir.—'V'his well-knowTi species is 

 resident in this country at all seasons, but the majority quit France in summer; emits a pUasing shrill 

 song, particularly in early spring, which is accompanied by a peculiar shiver of the wings : it feeds very much 

 on small seeds. There are a few others, of which one, A. movfiuellus, belongs te eastern Europe. The Dunnocks 

 grade from the Thrushes through Cinclosoma. 



