ORDER PASSERES. 5 



situated ; the stone or clump is usually turned to the south 

 side, and the entrance of the nest is to the north. Four or 

 five eggs are laid, of an undulating pale blue, and an 

 elongated form ; the females are so absorbed in the care of 

 hatching, that they are often taken on the nest. The male, 

 towards the middle of the day, assists her in this care, and, 

 moreover, provides for her subsistence. He is cunning and 

 dextrous in misleading those who might disturb her. If he 

 sees one passing, he runs or flies before him, makes short 

 pauses to draw him to the opposite side, and when he sees 

 him sufficiently remote, he takes a circular flight, and regains 

 the nest. At such moments he is heard more frequently to 

 repeat his cry of alarm. 



These birds seldom have, in our parts of the world, more 

 than one brood every year, and as soon as the little ones are 

 feathered, and even some time previously, they quit unculti- 

 vated lands, and frequent grounds recently tilled, where they 

 continue until September and October, when the family 

 assembles and sets out on the southern voyage. Some of 

 them are occasionally caught at sea, when, at considerable 

 distances from land, being much fatigued, they drop on the 

 masts of vessels to repose. 



These birds inhabit all Europe, Africa, and Southern Asia. 

 Great numbers of them are caught here, especially in Sussex, 

 towards the commencement of autumn, at which time they 

 are fat, and of a delicate favour. 



The Stone-chat Warbler, f'" traquet proprement dit,'''') 

 Sylvia rubicola, delights in dry, arid, sloping grounds, and 

 in bushes and briars. It is distinguished by its vivacity and 

 agility. It is always seen hopping from bush to bush, never 

 perching but at the extremity of the most elevated branches 

 of hedges, and shrubs, or at the summit of the highest vine- 

 poles. It rises in the air by little springs, and comes down 

 in a sort of pirouette, appearing and disappearing every 

 moment, and continually agitating its wings and tail ; this 



