48 
SYLVIAD.E. 
ground. They Tvcre anxiously attended by tlie parent birds, 
who showed no disposition to leave them. We did our 
best to secure one or two of them, but although they could 
not fly more than a few yards in a flight, they were too 
nimble for us, and kept themselves safely out of our reach. 
The flight of these birds is light and springing; and 
they hover with a quick motion of the wings, rising a few 
feet above the bushes, and singing at the same time their 
pleasing song. In a cage, their flight from perch to perch 
is light and noiseless, and performed with so quick a motion, 
that the wings, when in the act of fluttering, are not per¬ 
ceptible. 
This species is met with in most of the temperate parts 
of Europe, where heaths and fertile districts abound, reaching, 
in summer, as far north as the centre of Russia. It is found 
in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and France; in 
Greece, Italy, and Spain. In Switzeiland it is very common, 
especially in fertile valleys that border upon Alpine districts ; 
it even ascends the mountains to a considerable elevation, 
Avhere the soil is well covered with verdure. In all these 
countries it is a summer resident only, and very early in 
autumn retires southward. 
The adult birds are very handsome in plumage, especially 
the male in his full spring dress. The beak and the long 
slender legs are black, and polished like ivory, the base of 
the beak beset with bristles. The feathers of the whole 
upper plumage from the beak to the tail are dark brown 
in the centre, bordered on the head and on the lower part of 
the back with orange brown ; the intermediate parts, includ¬ 
ing the back and mantle, have the feathers bordered on the 
sides with delicate grey. From the beak a dark line extends 
backAvards, covering the ears ; above the eyes, and extending 
to the nape, runs a line of pure Avhite ; another narroAver line 
of Avhite passes from the corner of the mouth doAvn the side 
