54 WRENS. -TITLARKS. 



25. The Fauvetfe, — Motacilla orphea, — which is ashy brown 

 above, whitish beneath, is common in Europe, and particularly 

 in the southern provinces of France, which it leaves in flocks, 

 about the middle of autumn, to return in the spring. It feeds on 

 insects and soft fruits, and makes its nest in the bushes or reeds ; 

 the male has a strong, sonorous voice, which is not disagreeable. 

 Its song, says Buffon, somewhat resembles that of the Nightin- 

 gale, and is enjoyed for a long time ; for, many weeks after the 

 songster of the spring-time is hushed, the woods every where re- 

 sound with the song of the fau\'ette ; its voice is smooth, pure, 

 and light, and its succession of modulations, though of small ex- 

 tent, are agreeable, flexible, and graduated. 



26. The Wrens, — Regulus, — are little birds that keep on trees, 

 and there pursue gnats. The Roitelet, or Kinglet, — Motaoilla 

 regulus, — is the smallest of European birds; the head of the male 

 is adorned with a small yellow tuft bordered with black. 



27. These birds possess a great deal of activity and agility ; 

 they are almost always in motion ; they leap from branch to branch, 

 climb trees on all sides, they eagerly hunt in all the cracks of the 

 bark, and sometimes they suspend themselves, feet upwards like 

 the tom-tit ; they feed on insects, little worms and various small 

 grains. The female lays from ten to eighteen eggs which scarcely 

 exceed a large pea in size ; her nest of leaves is placed on the 

 branches of the fir-tree, in such a manner as to be swayed in all 

 directions by the wind. 



23. The True Wrens, — Troglodytes, — have the middle toe 

 rather long, and the nails of moderate length. They are remark- 

 able for their almost domestic habits, often building from prefer- 

 ence about houses, either empty or inhabited ; they also sing 

 agreeably ; species are found on both continents. The House 



Wren, — Troglodytes aedon, — Sylvia domestica, — is only a sum- 

 mer resident of the United States ; but the Whiter Wren, — 



Troglodytes hy emails, — sometimes passes the winter in Penn- 

 sylvania. 



29. The Wag-tails, — Motacilla,— are remarkable for the length 

 of their tail, which they are constantly elevating and depressing. 



30. The Meadow Larks, or Titlarks, — Anthus^ — somewhat 

 resemble the larks, (Alauda) on account of the long nail with 

 which their thumb is armed. 



25. What are the habits of the Fauvette ? 



26. What are Wrens ? 



27. What are the habits of Wrens ? 



28. What are the cliaracters of the true Wrens ? 



29. How arc the Wag-tails characterised ? 



30^ In what respect do the Meadow Larks resemble the Larks ? 



