BIRDS. 65 



(Acrocephalus streperus and A. arundinacea), etc. 

 The last-named live among reeds and rushes on the 

 banks of fresh waters, and eat insects which do not 

 affect agriculture and forestry ; all the other warblers 

 are useful. 



Other examples of the Subulirostres are the Golden- 

 crested Wren (Regulus cristatus), and the Common 

 Wren (Troglodytes parvulus), which are of service to 

 forestry and fruit-tree culture, but not to agriculture. 



Most of the native thrush-like birds {Turdus), 

 e.g. the Blackbird {T. merula), the Missel Thrush (T. 



Fig. 38.— The Nightingale (,Daulias luscinia). 



viscivorus), the Fieldfare (T. pilaris), the§ Redwing 

 (T. iliacus), and the Song Thrush (T. musicus), assist 

 the farmer by devouring noxious insects and snails ; 

 but several of them occasionally do damage by poach- 

 ing on cherries, grapes, currants, etc. Some of them 

 (e.g. the Song Thrush and Blackbird) breed in almost 

 all parts of Britain, others come here only in autumn 

 or winter. 



Order: Gyrantes (Doves). 



Body strongly built, somewhat thick-set. Wings 

 long and pointed. Beak weak, with a cere at its 



