﻿410 WARBLER. 



Female. The female makes her neft in fome low bufh, or quickfet- 



hedge, well covered with foliage, for luch only this bird fre- 

 quents ; and lays four or five eggs, of a greenilh brown. The 

 neft is compofed of dry leaves on the outfide, mixed with grafs 

 and fibres, lined with hair or down within, though not always 

 alike : I have alfo known the neft made upon a little rifing 

 ground. The female alone fits on and hatches the eggs, while 

 the maky not far off, confoles her with his delightful fong * j. 

 but as foon as the young are hatched, leaves off finging, for the" 

 moft part, and joins with the female in the talk of providing 

 for and feeding them. After the young can provide for them- 

 felves, the old female provides for afecond brood, and the fong 

 of the male recommences. They have alfo been known to have 

 three broods in a year, and in the hot countries even four f. It 

 has been obferved, that the males are at leaft double in number 

 to the females J. 

 Manners. They are folitary birds, never uniting into even fmall 



flocks; and in refpect to the nefts, it is very feldom that two 

 are found near each other. Thefe birds are often brought 

 up from the neft for the fake of their fong; and are likewife 

 caught at their firft coming over, and, though old birds, yet 



* The male in general only lings, yet now and then a female has been known 

 to iing in a cage. 



f Hi/!, des cif. 



% Buffou fays, that there are always more males than females; Co that if one 

 is deftroyed, the female never fails to get a new mate, and even a fecond or 

 third, if wanting. Quere, How are the fupernumerary males provided for f 

 or did nature enjoin the unhappy batchelor a ftate of celibacy ? 



The males arrive firft, and in about a week after the females, who have feldom 

 any males with them. No wonder, then, if all the birds firft caught fhould be 

 males. See Br. Zool. ii. p. 658. 



may 



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