THE SINGING BIRDS. 



241 



68° north latitude ; in France and Italy it is especially numerous, but is comparatively rarely met 

 with in Spain, though it is known to breed in that country. It usually arrives in England and 

 Scotland about April, and leaves early in September. Unlike most of its congeners, the Garden 

 Warbler is extremely quiet and peaceful in its demeanour, and, though cautious and vigilant, by no 

 means timid. It usually frequents woods, gardens, and orchards, and may constantly be seen 

 disporting itself among the fruit trees, in utter indifference to the presence of the owners. 



Macgillivray, quoting from Sweet, says : — " It visits us in the spring, about the end of April cr 

 the beginning of May, and its arrival is soon made known by its very loud and long song. It 

 generally begins very low, not unlike the song of the Swallow, but raises it by degrees, until it 

 resembles the song of the Blackbird, singing nearly all through the day and the greater part of the 





v 



V 



THE ORPIIEL'S WARBLER (Cllmic\! Orplied). 



time it stays with us, which is but short, as it leaves us again in August. In confinement it will sinw 

 nearly all through the year, if it be treated well. In a wild state it is generally found in gardens and 

 plantations, where it feeds chiefly upon fruits, and will not refuse some kinds of insects j it is very 

 fond of the larva or caterpillar that is often found upon cabbage plants, the produce of Papilio 

 brassiae, and I know no other bird of the genus that will feed on it. Soon after its arrival here the 

 strawberries are ripe, and it is not long before it finds them out ; the cherries it will begin before they 

 are quite ripe, and I know not any kind of fruit or berry which is wholesome that it will refuse. It 

 generally tastes the plums, pears, and early apples, before it leaves us ; and, when in confinement, it 

 also feeds freely on elder, privet, or ivy berries ; it is also partial to barberries." 



Mr. Neville Wood has seen it " darting into the air to catch insects in the same manner as the 

 Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicap'a grisola), often taking its stand on a dahlia stake, watching for its prey, 

 darting aloft with inconceivable rapidity,, with its bill upwards, catching the fly with a loud snap of the 

 bill, and immediately returning to its station to renew the same process with similar success." 



VOL. II. — 70 



