so 



CLASS AVES. 



of Sylvia. It differs, however, from the birds of that genus, 

 in habits, manners, and entire mode of life. This bird, 

 which Buffon termed, '•^ fauvette des Alpes^'' is called in the 

 mountains of Upper Comminge, pegot. The word pee, in 

 the vulgar language of the country, means imbecile ; it in- 

 habits the Pyrenees and the Alps ; it ordinarily chooses the 

 most elevated and solitary points of those arid mountains ; its 

 nest is circular, and composed of moss and grass ^ it fixes it 

 in the sheltered hollow of a rock, for it seems to be afraid of 

 the north wind, and always remains in a southern aspect ; 

 the eggs are green and five 3r six in number. 



These birds never quit their beloved mountains ; but when, 

 in winter, tempests and hurricanes arise, then they pre- 

 cipitate themselves in flocks into the vallies, take refuge in 

 the infractuosities of rocks, or retire behind the shrubs 

 which grow in their clefts and hollows ; they are either so 

 terrified, or so dull, that they give into snares of every kind, 

 and even serve as a sport to the children, who kill them con- 

 tinually with stones. Travellers frequently meet them on 

 the summits of the mountains, either perched on the 

 ground, two by two, or climbing along the rocks with the 

 assistance of their wings ; they are either so confident or so 

 . stupid, that the sight of man does not frighten them ; they 

 will suffer themselves to be approached very nearly. 



It does not appear that these birds have been retained in a 

 State of captivity, or even that any one has ever heard their 

 song. M. Picot La Peyrouse, who has observed them much, 

 never even heard them utter a cry ; they are both granivorous 

 and insectivorous, but more especially the latter. Buffon 

 says, that they remain commonly on the ground, where they 

 run very fast, after the manner of quails and partridges, 

 and not hopping like the other warblers ; that they also 

 perch on stones, but rarely on trees ; that they go in small 

 troops, and have a rallying cry like that of the water-wagtail. 



This species inhabits not only the Alps and Pyrenees, but 



