246 cassell's book of birds. 



members of their family, they display extraordinary dexterity in making their way through the 

 most intricate masses of foliage or the very innermost recesses of their favourite brushwood, and, 

 under ordinary circumstances, rarely venture forth upon the outer branches of their leafy retreats. 

 Despite their unusual shyness, they are, however, occasionally bold enough to extend their foraging 

 excursions as far as the neighbourhood of fields of corn, and in Southern Europe they especially 

 favour the crops of ripe maize. During their flight they generally keep near the ground, and, though 

 unable to continue their course for any great length of time, propel themselves through the air with 

 rapid and powerful strokes of their wings. The song of this species, which, though varied, is 

 decidedly inferior in quality to those of many of its congeners, is frequently poured forth when the 

 bird is on the wing, at an altitude of some twenty or forty yards above the ground, or as it rises 

 fluttering, or sinks with closed pinions towards the earth. 



" The note of the White Throat," says Gilbert White, " which is continually repeated, and often 

 attended with odd gesticulations on the wing, is harsh and unpleasing. These birds seem of 

 pugnacious disposition, for they sing with an erected crest and attitudes of rivalry and defiance, are 

 shy and wild in breeding-time, avoiding frequented neighbourhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and 

 commons — nay, even the very tops of the Sussex Downs, where there are bushes and coverts ; but 

 in July and August they bring their broods into gardens and orchards, and make great havoc among 

 the summer fruits." 



" One that I possess," says Mr. Sweet, " will sing for hours together against a Nightingale, now, 

 in the beginning of January, and will not suffer itself to be outdone. When the Nightingale raises 

 its voice, it also does the same, and tries its utmost to get above it. Sometimes in the midst 

 of its song it will run up to the Nightingale, stretch out its neck as if in defiance, and whistle as 

 loud as it can, staring it in the face. If the Nightingale attempts to peck it, away it flies in an 

 instant, darting round the aviary, and singing all the time. These birds are easily taken in a trap 

 baited with a living caterpillar or butterfly. One that I caught last spring sung the third day after 

 being placed in confinement, and continued to sing all through the summer ; but this was most 

 likely in consequence of a tame one being with it, which also sung at the same time." 



The nest is usually constructed in thick bushes or in long grass, and is often placed quite 

 close to the ground, or in the most unlikely situations — the iron-work on a lamp in Portland Place 

 and in a gate at Hampton Court Palace are instanced by Mr. Jesse as having been employed for 

 this purpose. Externally, the walls of the nest are formed of grass, often interspersed with wool, and 

 lined with some delicate material. The eggs, from four to six, are laid at the end of April. These 

 differ remarkably from each other, not only as to size, but in form and hue, some being white, yellow, 

 grey, or greenish, while others are slate colour, yellowish brown, or yellowish green, streaked, spotted, 

 or marbled with various darker shades. Two broods are always produced within the season. 



THE SPECTACLED WARBLER. 



The Spectacled Warbler {Curruca conspicillatd) is five inches long and six and three-quarters 

 broad ; the wing and tail each measure about two inches. The head of this species is dark grey; 

 the upper part of the body of a lighter grey, shaded with rust-red ; the under side and quills are 

 grey ; the outer web of the secondaries and of the feathers on the upper wing-covers broadly edged 

 with rust-red ; the outer web of the exterior tail-feathers is white, almost to the root ; the inner web 

 of all the tail-feathers is decorated with a more or less distinctly indicated triangular patch. The 

 light reddish-brown eye is surrounded by a white ring ; the feathers above the ears are grey ; the 

 beak flesh-pink at its base, and black at the tip ; the foot is either yellowish pink or reddish grey. 

 The young are distinguishable from the adult birds by the pure grey colour of their breast. In this 



