PASSERINE. 283 
Some of the species are very skilful in the construction of 
their nests, with cotton or other filaments, which they arrange 
with much art.(1) 
Recutus, Cuy. 
The beak slender, forming an extremely perfect and a very sharp 
pointed cone; when viewed from above its sides even appear slightly 
concave. They are small birds, which live among trees and pur- 
sue Gnats. There is in France, 
Mot. regulus, L.3; the Roitelet, Enl. 651,33; Naum. 93, 1, 2, 3. 
The smallest of the European birds; an olive colour above, a 
yellowish white beneath; head of the male marked with a beau- 
tiful spot of a golden yellow, edged with black, the feathers of 
which are erectile. It constructs on trees a globular nest, with 
a lateral opening, suspends itself to the branches in every posi- 
tion like a Parus, and keeps near our houses in winter.(2) 
_A still smaller species has lately been observed, the yellow of 
which inclines more to the orange, and which has a black streak 
before and behind the eye.—Regulus a ED Naum. 93, 
4, 5, 6. 
Motac. trochilus, L.; Le Pouillot, Enl. 651, 1; Naum. 80, 3, 
Somewhat larger than the roitelet, of the same colour, but 
without the crown; its habits are similar, but it has a more 
agreeable song, and it removes on the approach of winter. 
Motac. hypolais; Le grand Pouillot; Bechst. Wl, xxiv; Enl. 
581, 2; Naum. 81, 1. _ Is still a little larger, and the abdomen 
more on a silver.(3) 
mi. The species foreign to Europe are extremely numerous, and 
are very often agreeably coloured. (4) 
ae 
<¥ 
sourcil, Id. 128. It is partly from this subdivision that Mess. Vieill. and Temm. 
have taken their genus Merion or Malurus; I should not, however, like the former, 
place in it the Mot. cyanea, Gm. which has the beak of a Saxicola. 
N.B. The Malurus galactodes, Tem. has become the genus Mzeaturus of 
Vigors and Horsfield. 
' (1) Certain Fauvettes, such as the S. sarda, have a little circle round the eye. 
They form the genus Zosrerors of Vigors and Horsfield. 
(2) Add the Roitelet omnicolor, Vicill. Galer. 166. 
(3) Add of European species: Mot. sibilatrix, Col. 245, 3; Naum. 80, 2;—M. 
jitis, Naum. 80, 3;—M. rufa, Naum. 80, 4 
(4) Such are the Tscheric, Vaill. 111,-121;—the Cow-jaune (Mot. pensilis), En}. 
685, 5;—WMot. zxstiva, Enl. 58, 2;—the Mot. ludoviciana, Enl. 731, 2;—the Fig. 
a@ poitrine jaune (Mot. mystacea), Enl. 709, 2, Edw. 237, 2;—the Fig. cendré du 
Canada (M. Canadensis), Enl. 685, 2;—the Fig. de Disle de France (M. mauritiana, 
y Enl. 705, 1;—the Plastron noir, Vaill. 111, 123;—Sylvia venusta, Tem. Col. 293, 
