202 THE WHITETHROAT. 



back again to its former perch. Along the twigs it nins -with astonishing rapidity, sometimes 

 clinging with its head downward, sometimes running round and round them spirally, always 

 twisting its pert little head in every direction, and probing each hole and crevice with its 

 sharp slender little bill. The roughest-barked trees are its favorite resort, because in such 

 localities it finds its best supply of insect food. 



The Fiee-crested Wren is very simDar to the preceding species, but may be distinguished 

 from it by the ruddy hue of the forehead, the fiery orange of the crest, and the decidedly yellow 

 hue of the sides of the neck. It is an inhabitant of Europe, but is a much rarer bird than the 

 Golden-crest. Owing to the great resemblance between the two species, they have often been 

 mistaken for each other, and it is only within a comparatively recent period that their diversity 

 was established. Another species of the same genus, the Dalmatian Regulus {Regulus 

 modestus), has, although very rarely indeed, been found in the northern regions of Europe. 

 The general color of the plumage is greenish-yellow, and the crown of the head is marked by 

 a narrow streak of paler yellow. 



SONG-WARBLERS. 



The Imscinince^ or Song-waeblers, are, as their name denotes, remarkable for their 

 sweet song, to which accomplishment may be added the beauties of elegant shape and gi'aceful 

 movement. In their color they are very inconspicuous, brown, gray, and olive-green being the 

 hues with which they are generally tinted, in accordance with the principle which has been 

 lately laid down while treating of the Humming-birds. In all these birds the beak is strong, 

 straight, sharply-pointed, and with a notch ujion the upper mandible near its extremity. The 

 feet have three toes in front and one behind, and the claw of the hinder toe is the largest and 

 most sharply curved. The nostrils are placed at the base of the beak, are pierced through a 

 rather large membrane, and are unprotected by feathers. 



The common Whitetheoat is abundant in various parts of Europe, and is, perhaps, the 

 best known of all its tribe. 



It is a lively, brilliant little bird, and is remarkable for the curious movement which it 

 makes when singing, and which seldom fails to attract the attention of the observer. Generally 

 starting from some low bush, the Whitethroat begins its sweet quiet song, and then, sijringing 

 suddenly into the air, wings its way perpendicularly upwards, as if it were about to rival the 

 lark in its lofty flight. But after attaining a height of four or five feet, it slowly sinks upon 

 the spot from which it had started, and again rises into the air with a fresh burst of music. 

 While singing, it seems fuH of life and eagerness, and the white feathers of its throat, together 

 with those of the crest, vibrate powerfully as the sweet notes are poured forth. The song is 

 not a lengthened one, but is frequently repeated witliin a short space of time. 



The Whitethroat possesses a strong spirit of rivalry, and will match itself against almost 

 any songster that ))egins to utter his stram, having even been known to challenge the night- 

 ingale to a friendly trial of vocal powers. Sometimes it becomes a mimic, and imitates the 

 songs of the other birds by which it is surrounded. In captivity it sings readily, and has 

 been known to start into song only three days after its capture. 



Tlie haunts of this bii'd are generally among low bushes, brambles, underwood, and copses, 

 among which it flits with restless activity. Owing to its habit of traversing the low and nettle- 

 overgrown underwood, it has received the popular name of Nettle-creeper in many parts of 

 England. The food of the Whitethroat consists chiefly of insects, and it is indefatigable in 

 its attacks upon various caterjiillars and flies, thereby doing great service to the gardener, 

 who, however, generally aims at its destruction, because in the autumn it repays itself by a 

 few of the fruits which it has saved from the caterpillar and the grub. The caterpillar of the 

 cabbage butterfly is a favorite article of diet with this bird. 



The Whitethroat arrives in the northern regions of Europe towards the end of April, the 



