ORDER PASSERES. 7 



autumn is fat and delicate, not inferior to that of the becca- 

 fico in flavour. 



We shall now proceed to consider the most remarkable of 

 the family of the Warblers, contained under our author's 

 subgenera, Rubiettes, (Sylvia,) Fauvettes, (Curruca,) 

 Accentor, Roitelet, &c. 



These birds are all comprehended by M. Vieillot under the 

 general term Fauvette, Sylvia of Latham, and Motacilla 

 of Linnaeus. With the exception of the red-breast, they all 

 leave our climates at that season when they are left destitute 

 of food by the defoliation of the trees, and the death or 

 lethargy of the insect tribe. But as soon as the flowers begin 

 to blow, and the woods put on the livery of spring, we find 

 the numerous family of the warblers re -appear, and disperse 

 themselves through our groves and fields. Many establish 

 themselves in gardens and shrubberies, others prefer the 

 borders of coppices or the deep recesses of the woods ; and 

 some, in fine, are partial to the neighbourhood of water, 

 where they fix their domicile. They all spread animation 

 through the places which they inhabit, by the gaiety of their 

 songs, the variety, the vivacity of their movements, their 

 sportive tricks, and amorous combats. 



Some of these birds feed on insects only ; others unite 

 with these, berries and succulent fruits. When they are 

 nourished with grapes, figs, mulberries, &c. they grow fat, 

 and their flesh becomes as savoury as that of the beccafico, 

 with which bird they are frequently confounded in the south 

 of Europe. Thickets, groves, shrubberies, &c. are the 

 places where the majority of them choose to establish their 

 nests, Avhile others prefer reeds and rushes. Some confide 

 their progeny to the hollows of walls, rocks, and trees. 

 Some of the reguli nestle on the ground, and give to their 

 nest the form of a little oven. The visual number of eirfirs 

 among the majority is from four to five ; a few of the reguli 

 lay from six to eight. 



