1 88 cassell's book of birds. 



dirty white, tinted with red on the sides of the neck, and with reddish yellow on the thighs ; the 

 cheeks are whitish brown, and a white streak passes over the eyes. The quills and upper wing-covers 

 are brown, the former diversified with a narrow light brown edge, and the latter with a broad border 

 of reddish yellow ; the tail-feathers, with the exception of the one in the centre, are of a beautiful 

 rust-red, with a white tip, the latter marked with a round, blackish brown spot ; the eye is deep 

 brown, the beak and feet reddish. This species is about seven inches long and eleven broad ; the 

 wing measures rather more than three, and the tail three inches. 



The Tree Nightingales are found principally on arid spots, but sparsely overgrown with low 

 brushwood, though they by no means avoid cultivated districts or the immediate neighbourhood of 

 man. In Spain, they constantly frequent the vineyards and olive plantations, and in North-eastern 

 Africa take up their abode in the gardens, or close to the huts of the natives, provided that they there 

 find a few of their favourite bushes whereon to perch. We ourselves have never met with them in 

 the primitive forests, or upon lofty mountains, though they often frequent wooded highlands. Such 

 of these birds as inhabit Central Africa are stationary, whilst those occupying Northern Africa and 

 Southern Europe migrate, leaving their more northern habitat about the end of September and 

 returning in April. The males take their departure first, followed in a few days by their mates : 

 arrived at their destination, they soon spread themselves over the face of the country. In their 

 habits they are somewhat peculiar ; they always select the very topmost point of a bush, post, or 

 tree, as their ordinary perch, and on it they sit with tail erect, drooping wing, upright body, and legs 

 drawn in, as they pour out their song, or glance sharply around in search of a worm or beetle. 

 Should a prize of this nature be discerned, the bird will instantly dart down, flourishing and spreading 

 its tail, and, after running rapidly for a few paces, seize its prey and return to its observatory, uttering 

 a short call-note denoting extreme satisfaction. Their mode of flight and other movements are 

 almost identical with those of the Nightingale, and like that bird they seek their food principally upon 

 the ground, coming occasionally even into the streets of towns, when hard pressed for the means of 

 subsistence, though at other times they are extremely cautious and timid. Strange to say, such as 

 came under our own notice in Central Africa would permit the dark-coloured natives to approach 

 quite close to them, but took instant alarm at the appearance of a white man. The voice of this 

 species is capable of but yery little variety, and will bear no comparison with that of its world-famed 

 relative ; yet, in spite of this inferiority, it is ever a favourite, its constant cheerfulness enlivening all 

 that listen to its almost incessaat song, which may be heard not only through the whole of the 

 breeding season, but is uttered as the little creature runs, perches, or even flies through the air. The 

 period of incubation commences at the end of May, and lasts for a considerable time. The nest, 

 which is large and roughly formed of twigs, moss, and grass, lined with hair, wool, and feathers, is 

 placed either against the trunk of a tree or on one of the larger branches, or in a thick bush. The 

 eggs have a dirty white or blueish grey shell, marked with pale dark patches and brown spots. We 

 are without particulars regarding the rearing of the nestlings, but have ourselves met with unfledged 

 young as late as September. 



The BLUE-THROATED WARBLERS (Cyanecula) are birds with slender bodies, short blunt 

 wings, and high, slender legs. Their long beak is compressed at the nostrils, the upper mandible 

 slightly raised, but sharp-pointed at its extremity. The plumage is lax, and varies in hue with the age 

 or sex of the bird. In the male the upper part of the body is dark brown, the under side dirty 

 white, streaked at the sides with greyish brown. The throat, which is of a magnificent ultramarine 

 blue, is decorated in some instances with a dark star, which spreads and extends downwards like 

 a black streak, separated from a crescent-shaped spot upon the breast by a delicate light line. A 



