^9 

 MOTACILLA SALICARIA. 



Syst. Nat. 330. 



SEDGE-WARBLER OR WILLOW-LARIC 



PLATE LXIX. 



i. he bill is black ; the head brown, marked with 

 dusky touches down the middle of the feathers; over 

 each eye a white line, and over that a black one; 

 cheeks, brown ; the throat of a pale yellow ; breast, 

 white; belly and covert feathers beneath the tail, pale 

 buff. The head and back, olive-brown, spotted with 

 dark spots. The feathers of the wing and tail, dusky, 

 edged with olive-brown ; the tail, when spread, is fan- 

 shaped, the middle feathers being longest, those tow- 

 ards the sides gradually shortening. 



This bird inhabits watery places, where sedges, rushes, 

 and reeds, abound. It skulks, like the Grasshopper- 

 Warbler, and is not often seen. It sings by night ; and, 

 in some parts of Lancashire, is taken for the Nighting- 

 gale. Its song is a mixture of that of other birds ; its 

 pipe, loud and clear. It makes very pleasing melody 

 in summer, when 



The night is still, the air serene, 



Fann'd by a southern breeze ; 

 The glimm'ring moon may just be seen 



Reflecting thro' the trees. 



The caterpillar of the admirable butterfly * figured 

 on the plate, feeds on nettles ; changes to a chrysalis in 

 July, and to a butterfly in August ; inhabits woods ; and, 

 on being disturbed or pursued, flies high, and alights 

 near the tops of the trees. 



* Papilio Atalanta Linnsei. 



