PASSERTNiE. 191 



refldisii-browB Hbove, yellowish beneath, the throat white. [This species, which passes fo-r a g-ood songster^ 

 though extremely comreon on the opposite coast of Holland, has not yet been detected in the British islands. A 

 nearly allied species {S. oUveforuin, Strickland), which is rather smaller, is common in Syria. The rest are con- 

 siderably less, and there is one of these, a miniature of S. turdoides^ which is very common, though local, in South 

 Britain, inigratinf;; in winter, as do all the rest : the S. arundinacea, Auct. Tliey are the Calainoherpc, Meyer. 



Other species have smaller bills, and are generally striated on the back, with longitudinal whitish streaks on the 

 head, the Cafamodijia, Bonap. Among tliein we hnd] 



The Sedge Babbler (Mof. salicarin, Lin. ; [iS.phroi/milis, Auct.]) ; distinguished by a conspicuous whitish streak 

 over each eye. [This bird is also a common summer visitant in Britain, more generally distributed than the 

 Reed Babbler (.S^. arundinacea) ; and is remarkable for the sparrow-like tone of many of its cliirj^ings, -which has 

 induced an erroneous opinion that it is an imitator or mimic. There are several others. 



Some species, not far removed from the Babblers, are remarkable for the absence of bristles at the gape {which 

 in the latter are rather conspicuous), for their graduated tail, composed of broad, soft leathers, their deli- 

 cately-formed feet, with straight claws, and particularly for the singularity of their note, which consists of a pro- 

 longed sibilant trill, somewhat resembling that of the IMolc-cricket. They compose the Locuatella of Gould, of 

 which three species inhabit Europe. Such, in Britain, is 

 Kay's Locustelle (L. Raiiy Auct.), or the Grass/iojipcr WarOler of many writers, (fig. 88), the dorsal plumage of 

 which is coloured like that of the Water Rail. It is common in many districts of this 

 country, as a summer visitant, frequenting furze-brakes and other dense cover, 

 where its singular voice is heard at all hours, but principally at dusk : while utter- 

 ing this sound, it gapes very widely, and sometimes continues to emit it wlien 

 tlitting from bush to bush, or even hovering in the air. A larger species {L. fiu- 

 vlatilis), common on the reedy margins of the Danube, utters precisely the same 

 sound. The Sylv/a certhlola, Tem., of eastern Europe, constitutes the third. 



Those which inhabit sylvan districts have, in general, stouter bills, and all feed 

 more or less upon fruit, of which some are great devourers. They are \'ery distinct 

 from the foregoing, and several are delicate songsters. Such, in the British 



Locustelle. . , 



isles, are 



Tlie Blackcap Fauvet {Curruca atricaplUa, Auct.)— Olive-brown above, ash-colour on the neck and lower parts, 

 becoming whitish on the throat and belly ; a black, or, in the female and young, reddish-brown cap on Hie head. 

 One of the tinest of our native vocalists, remarkable for the melody of the loud clear whistle with which it termi- 

 nates its lays. It inhabits gardens and the outskirts of woods, arrives early in sprmg, and is very frugivorous. 



The Garden Fauvet (C. hortcnsis) resembles the Blackcap in form, except tliat it is rather shorter ; its head is 

 of the same colour with the back, and there is a little grey on the sides of the neck. Tliis species is remarkable 

 for the deep mellow tones of its voice, arrives late in spring, and is similar in all its habits to the preceding. 



The other British species have white on the exterior tail-feathers, and pertain to a group the members of which 

 are mostly less arboreal, frequenting low bushes. 



The Wnte-breasted Fauvet (C. i/arrula) is, however, often beard fi-om the summits of high trees, having nearly 

 the same habits as the Blackcap, It is smaller than the preceding, with a proportionally more slender bill -, and 

 ashy-brown above, pure grey on the head and neck, silvery white below, the feet lead-coloured. Is common in 

 gardens, and has a low warbling song, with a loud inharmonious finish. 



The Whitethroat Fauvet (C. cinered), is larger and browner than the last, with some mahogany-colour on the 

 wings ; feet yellowish. This species, exceedingly common about bedgfs aiid low brake, is seldom seen upon trees, 

 and is an inferior chattering songster, that often ascends singing to a small height in tlie air, \\ith pecidiar ges- 

 ticulations. Lastly, 



The Long-tailed Fauvette (C. pi-ovi)iciaN,s), made into a genus MelizopMhis by Leach, on account of its shorter 

 wings and more graduated tail, wherein it only ditters in a slight degree from some others, as C. ^arda, kc, is 

 remarkable for being resident throughout the year in furze-brakes in some parts of the south of England. Its 

 manners exactly resemble those of the Whitethroat. Colour dark ashy-brown, vinaceous-red below. 



Tliere are several continental species allied to all the above.] 



Bechstein has separated from the Fauvettcs 



The Dunnocks {Accentor, B.), — 

 The beak of \vhicb, still slender, but more exactly conical than that of other Bee-fins [and also rather 

 sharply pointed], is slightly retracted at the edges. Their gizzard also is more fleshy. 



The Alpine Dunnock [Mot. alpina^ also Sfnrmis aJphins and St. coUaris, Gm.).— An ashy-coloured bird [mixed 

 with bro'wn], with a white throat sprinkled with black, two ranges of white spots on the wing, and some bright 

 rufous on the Hanks. It inhabits the pastures of the high Alps, where it feeds on insects, descending however in 

 winter into the plains to pick up grain. [A species of rare occurrence in the British islands.] 



The Hedge Dunnock (Mot. modnlaris, Lin.), [currently termed the Hedge .S^arrow.—This well-known species is 

 resident in this counti-y at all seasons, but the majority quit France in summer; emits a pleusing shrill 

 song, particularly in early spring, which is accompanied by a peculiar shiver of the wings ; it feeds very much 

 on small seeds. There are a few others, of which one, A. montinellus, belongs to eastern Europe. The Dunnocks 

 grade from the Thrushes through Cinch'soma. 



