34? Migration and Habits of the Genus Sylvia, 



Art. VIII. On the Autumnal Migration and Habits of some of the 

 Genus Salvia in England, By J. D. Hoy, Esq. 



Sir, 



Considering that any facts which might tend in any way to 

 elucidate the natural history of our island, might not be unac- 

 ceptable to you, I send you a few observations I have made on 

 the autumnal migration and habits of some of the genus Sylvia. 



The arrival of this elegant and interesting tribe of birds in 

 the spring is immediately made known to us by the variety 

 and sweetness of their notes, which enliven our groves and 

 fields, and by which they at once appear filled with a new 

 creation ; but after the great work of rearing their young has 

 been accomplished, and the warmer season is drawing to a 

 close, they imperceptibly steal away from us. The nightin- 

 gale (Sylvia .Luscinia) remains with us in small numbers, 

 frequenting gardens, bean fields, and thick hedge-rows, some- 

 times until the end of September ; a great number leave us in 

 the end of August or beginning of September. They may be 

 known, when you approach them, by their shrill call-note and 

 croaking note of alarm ; I have, on several occasions, heard 

 them sing a few notes in a low suppressed tone. The redstart 

 (S. Phoenicurus) appears to quit in considerable numbers in 

 the end of August, particularly the old birds, last seen about 

 the 20th of September. The wood wren (S. sibilatrix) leaves in 

 the beginning of September, as do the greater number of the 

 willow wrens (S. Trochilus); a few of the latter remain to the 

 middle of the month. The willow wren will sing a little on fine 

 warm days, but the lesser willow wren, or chiff-chafF (S. hip- 

 polais), pours forth its singular and cheering notes, frequently 

 for hours together, many days before it take its departure. 

 This hardy little bird lingers with us not unfrequently to the 

 middle of October, or later, frequenting gardens and fir plant- 

 ations, where you will find it in company with the titmice, or 

 crested wrens. The common and lesser whitethroats (S. cine- 

 rea and S. Sylviella) I have not seen later than the 24th of 

 September; those that remain with us to that time frequenting 

 hedges where blackberries abound, of which they are very 

 fond ; the great flight appear to leave in the beginning of the 

 month. I have seen the grasshopper warbler (S.Locustella) as 

 late as the 5th of September; the last time of hearing its 

 sibilous note the 23d of August. If you approach this bird 

 suddenly, it has a curious jerking of the tail as it retreats from 

 you, most frequently running on the ground. The reed and 

 sedge warblers (S. «rundinacea and S. salicaria) have mostly 

 left their breeding places by the end of August; and about the 



