30 CLASS AVES. 



and the islands at the mouth of the Vistula. It does not 

 inhabit England ; it is found in Asia, for Sonnerat brought 

 back an individual from the Philippine islands. 



The Reed- wren (Mot. Arundinacea) is smaller than the 

 last, but very analogous to it in form and habits. These 

 birds frequent the edges of rivers, lakes, and ponds, where 

 they remain in the reeds, and generally in those watered 

 places where these plants cross. They seize their stalks 

 across with their toes, and traverse them jumping along. 

 The male, during the day, and of calm nights, utters a song 

 which may be expressed by the syllables tran, tran, tran^ 

 repeated a dozen or fifteen times running. The nest is found 

 in the same places which the bird frequents, within about a 

 foot of the water. It is constructed of the same materials as 

 that of the preceding species : leaves and little stalks of 

 aquatic plants, constitute the bed, on which the female lays 

 four or five greenish eggs, irregularly spotted with olive 

 green; these spots are confluent towards the large end. 

 This nest is attached to several reeds, so that it is suspended 

 in air. It is pretended, that by means of three or four loose 

 rings, composed of moss and horse hair, it can be raised or 

 lowered according to the height of the water. This assertion, 

 lijowever, is combated by many naturalists, who affirm that 

 these nests, although suspended in this way, cannot be raised 

 above two or three inches at most, the rings being stopped 

 by the knots of the reeds : therefore if the increase of the 

 water should be considerable, the nests will be submerged. 

 It may be mentioned here, that the inhabitants of Lorraine 

 judge of the height to which the waters will arrive, by the 

 elevation of the nest of the river nightingale. 



The Spotted Warbler (Sylvia Ncevia) is the smallest of the 

 aquatic species. It is more frequent in this country than in 

 France, remains usually in thick hedges, briars, and even reeds. 

 The eggs of this species are of a pale blue. 



The Black-cap {Sylvia Atricapilla, Lath.). Of all the 



