23S cassell's book of birds. 



The Song Warblers principally frequent the woodland districts of the more northerly portions of 

 the Eastern Hemisphere, and usually prefer tracts covered with low trees and underwood to lofty 

 forests. They almost entirely avoid mountainous regions, even should these be thickly overgrown 

 with their favourite shrubs and bushes. Unlike the Thrushes, they rarely descend to seek for food 

 upon the surface of the ground, nor are they apparently more at their ease when on the wing, for 

 they frequently undertake lengthy journeys during their winter migrations, and their flight is in most 

 instances fluttering and heavy ; some few species, however, prove exceptions to this rule, as they are 

 not only capable of careering with a rapid undulating course through the realms of air, but frequently, 

 when about to pour forth their song, soar to a considerable altitude. It is in the depths of the 

 thicket, however, that the members of this family best display the wonderful agility with which they 

 have been endowed. No tangled brake, no mass of foliage, however dense, is impervious to these 

 little birds. With lowered head, and wings and feet drawn in, they creep through the smallest 

 apertures with astonishing dexterity, and make their way with an ease and rapidity tljat is almost 

 unequalled in the whole feathered creation. Unlike the Thrush or Shrike, they never agitate their 

 tail and pinions when in motion; but, if angry or excited, display the crest that decks their head, and 

 slightly raise their wings above the back. As regards their vocal powers, they are, for the most part, 

 highly gifted. Their senses are keen, their intelligence remarkable, and their dispositions shy and 

 cautious. Although usually peaceable during the breeding season, they frequently exhibit con- 

 siderable fury and violence towards any suspected rival or enemy, that contrasts strangely with 

 the tenderness and devotion they display while endeavouring to win the attention of their mates, or 

 ministering to the wants of their little family. More than one brood is usually produced in the year, 

 each of which consists of from four to six eggs, of a white hue, spotted with grey or brown. The flat 

 and prettily-formed nest is placed amongst the bushes, or on a branch, and constructed of stalks, cottony 

 wool, spiders' webs, green moss, and fibres, lined with horsehair, the whole being woven together 

 so lightly that the eye can penetrate its interior. In some instances these fragile little structures are 

 fastened so insecurely on their foundations as to be liable to be dislodged by the wind. During the 

 summer months the Song Warblers subsist almost entirely upon insects, larvae, caterpillars, and similar 

 fare, and in autumn devour large quantities of berries and fruit. They are often very destructive to 

 cherry-trees, and in Southern Europe do great damage to the crops of ripe figs. 



The TRUE SONG WARBLERS (Curruca) aie distinguished from their congeners by the 

 comparative length of their pointed wings, in which the third quill is longer than the rest, also by their 

 moderately-sized and almost or quite straight tail. 



THE SPARROW-HAWK WARBLER. 



The Sparrow-hawk Warbler {Curruca nisorid), the largest European member of this group, is 

 seven inches long and eleven broad ; the wing measures three and a half, and the tail three inches. 

 Upon the upper part of the body the feathers are deep grey, usually shaded with rust-red ; the under 

 side is greyish white, decorated with dark grey crescent-shaped spots, which are most clearly defined 

 in the plumage of the male bird ; the quills are brownish grey, edged with a paler shade ; the 

 tail-feathers deep grey, with light borders. The eye is bright gold colour, the beak brownish black, 

 and yellowish pink at its base ; the foot is light grey. In the young, the crescent-shaped spots 

 on the breast are but slightly indicated. 



This species is numerously met with in most European countries that lie between Southern 

 Sweden and Central Asia ; it is, however, unknown in England, and is extremely rare both in Spain 

 and Greece. Pasture lands, abounding in shrubs and bushes, on the banks of large rivers, are 



