GARDEN-WARBLER. 403 



a few cobwebs and a little moss cement the stalks together ; and it is lined 

 with a small quantity of horsehair. The surrounding branches are artfully 

 interwoven with the sides of the nest, which, frail as it is, is well and skill- 

 fully put together. The eggs are four or five in number, in some cases as 

 many as six. They very closely resemble those of the Blackcap, and vary 

 in ground-colour from pale buflEish white to greenish white. In some eggs 

 the markings are distributed in large blotches of greenish brown, varying 

 in richness of colour, and intermingled with smaller and paler underlying 

 spots, with sometimes a few short irregular streaks of dark brown ; in 

 others the underlying spots are the predominant ones — large irregular 

 pale violet-grey blotches, sparingly dashed and marbled with brown surface- 

 spots, some of which are very dark in colour ; others, again, have the 

 markings chiefly round the large end of the egg — very rich brown spots and 

 irregular streaks intermingled with grey underlying spots. I have never 

 met with the rufous type which occasionally occurs in eggs of the Blackcap 

 and other AVarblers as well as the Shrikes &c. They vary in length from 

 ■85 to '7 inch, and in breadth from "63 to "55 inch. 



Dixon thus writes of the nest of this bird : — " The Garden- Warbler's 

 nest is usually well concealed under the leaves of the shrubs and plants that 

 sustain it, often so admirably as to completely hide the eggs or sitting bird 

 from view. It is also made on a flimsy net-like design, and is well adapted 

 to escape the notice of all but the most prying observation. The colours 

 of the sitting bird, too, are highly protective; and its unassuming dress is 

 in strict harmony with surrounding objects. When you approach her nest 

 she will eye you anxiously, but will not move, except perhaps to crouch 

 still lower in her nest. Silent and motionless she will allow you to 

 almost touch her with your hand, ere personal safety masters her maternal 

 love, and, like a shadow, she glides into the neighbouring under- 

 growth." 



The Garden- Warbler is said to rear two broods in the year ; but I do not 

 think that such is invariably the case ; and the late broods of this bird 

 sometimes met with may be those of birds whose earlier eft'orts were unfor- 

 tunate. It leaves our shores usually by the latter end of September. 



The male Garden- Warbler in spring plumage has the general colour of 

 the upper parts olive-brown, darker and greyer on the wings and tail, and 

 slightly paler on the margin of the wing-coverts and innermost secondaries. 

 The underparts are greyish white, purest on the belly and on the edge of 

 the wing, just below the carpal joint, and shading into pale olive-brown on 

 the breast, flanks, and the centre of the under tail-coverts. The axillaries 

 and under wing-coverts are buft', the latter with darker centres. Bill dark 

 brown, paler at the base of the lower mandible ; legs, feet, and claws bluish 

 grey ; irides hazel. The female scarcely diflers from the male. After the 



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