i6o 



CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



The remaining native thrushes and thrush-like birds are: — Redwing {Turdus 

 iliacus); Ring-Ousel (T. torquatd); Missel-Thrush {T. viscivorus); Red-spotted 

 Bluethroat {Cyanecula suecicd); Nightingale {Daulias luscinid); Robin Redbreast 

 {Erithacus rubecula) ; Whinchat (Pratincola rubetrd) ; Stonechat {F. rubicold) ; 

 Wheatear {Saxicola cenanthe) ; Redstart {Ruticilla phosnicurus) ; Black Redstart 

 {R. tithys). 



Warblers (fig. io8) are smaller and slenderer birds than 

 thrushes, and more insectivorous in their habits. There is not 



the same difference of plum- 

 age between young and adult 

 birds as in thrushes. Though 

 the group is cosmopolitan, it 

 is essentially characteristic of 

 the Old World. 



Among the numerous 

 British species may be men- 

 tioned: — Whitethroat (Sylvia 

 cinered) ; Golden - crested 

 Wren (Regulus cristatus), 

 the smallest of European 

 birds) (fig. 109); Sedge 

 Warbler {Acrocepkalus 



phragmitis) ; and Hedge- 

 Sparrow [Accentor modu- 

 laris). 



Our remaining species of war- 

 blers are : — Lesser Whitethroat 

 {Sylvia currucd); Blackcap Warbler 

 (S. atricapilla); Garden Warbler 

 (S. hortensis) ; Dartford Warbler 

 {S. undatd); Marsh Warbler {Acro- 

 cepkalus palustris); Reed Warbler 

 {A. streperus); Grasshopper Warbler 

 {Locus fella ncevia) ; Chiff chaff {Phyl- 

 loscopus rufus); Wood- Wren {P. sibilatrix); Willow -Wren {P. trochilus); Fire- 

 crested Wren {Regulus ignicapillis) (fig. 109). 



17. Wrens, properly so called, are small birds with fairly long, 

 straight, or nearly straight, beaks and rounded wings. The tail 

 is usually carried bent up over the back. Commonest in South 

 America, these birds are also found in North America, Europe, 

 and some parts of Asia. 



The Common Wren {Troglodytes parvulus) of Britain is 



Fig. 109. — Golden-crested Wren [Regulus crisiatus) below; 

 Fire-crested Wren {R. ignicapillus) above. 



