ORDER PASSERES. 37 



also the high mountains of Persia. 1 1 seems necessary to notice 

 that it has been three times repeated by Gmelin and Latham, 

 as distinct species. By the former under the names, motacilla 

 alpina, sturnus collarisy and sturnus mauritanus ; by the 

 latter as collared stare, Persian starling, and Alpine warbler. 



The Winter Warbler, or Accentor Modularis, is classed in 

 this genus. This bird has been known under a variety of 

 denominations, which it is needless to recapitulate ; it seems 

 to be remote from the warblers in its mode of life and habits, 

 to have less gaiety and vivacity, and a song more feeble, 

 plaintive, and monotonous. It is heard most usually^ in the 

 morning and evening ; it then perches on a middle-size tree, 

 or the top of a shrub ; its song is agreeable in a season of 

 the year, when all other birds are silent. It has also a little 

 trembling cry. 



Nature, always provident, having destined this bird to 

 pass the winter in our northern climates, has clothed it much 

 better than the other warblers, and given it a better furnished 

 plumage. In autumn these birds appear in great numbers 

 near habitations ; all at this epoch, quit the woods, their 

 summer domicile, and spread themselves in hedges and 

 bosquets which neighbour on gardens. When the cold grows 

 rigorous, they approach houses and particularly barns and 

 lofts where grain is thrashed, seeking in the straw for little 

 insects and small grains ; every aliment suits them at this 

 time, for com has been found in their crop, though they 

 are usually insectivorous. They may be fed with hemp- 

 seed, which they will swallow entire, as pigeons do ; but 

 it is only necessity which makes them granivorous. As soon 

 as the cold relaxes they remove from houB^es and barns, and 

 remain in hedges and bushes, seeking the chrysalides on the 

 branches, and the little insects which are benumbed under 

 the moss ; at the approach of the fine days they remove still 

 farther, retire to the borders of woods, and eventually pene- 

 trate into the thickest recesses. 



