WARBLER. 11 



legs dusky: in some old birds, a pale or yellowish streak appears 

 over the eye. The male and female are much alike, but the latter 

 is smaller. 



This is not a very common species in England ; we have met with 

 it in Kent, and in the neighbourhood of London ; also received it 

 from Sandwich : Colonel Montagu found it in Gloucestershire and 

 Wiltshire; it is known to be in Berkshire and Hampshire, but believe 

 it not to be in plenty any where ; however, it may possibly be more 

 so than generally imagined, from its likeness to the female Blackcap, 

 which, at a distant view, it much resembles. 



The males generally arrive here about the last week in April, the 

 females a few days later ; they build in thick bushes or hedges ; the 

 nest composed of dried fibres, some wool, and a little green moss, 

 lined sometimes with horsehair ; the eggs four in number, weighing 

 each 36 grains, colour dirty white, with brownish specks, pretty nume- 

 rous and confluent, at the larger end : Mr. Beehstein thinks the 

 song even more varied than that of the Nightingale, bursting into 

 various kinds of modulations as it proceeds, and at times warbling 

 like the House Swallow; indeed, some of its notes are sweetly, and 

 softly drawn, others are quick, lively, loud, and piercing, but reaching 

 the distant ear without inharmonious discord ; its general food is 

 insects, which it searches for under the leaves, but will frequently come 

 into gardens, making free with the fruit likewise : the young are ob- 

 served to remain in the nest till almost as well feathered as the parents. 



It is recorded as a bird of Sweden, appearing there in May, and 

 departing the end of August. We here and there meet with it on 

 the Continent of Europe, and can trace it as far as Gibraltar, at 

 which place it is seen, though sparingly, in the summer months. 



M. Temminck mentions a bird which he calls Sylvia orphea, 

 which appears very similar, if not the same ; and observes, that the 

 Fauvette, PL enlum. 576. 1 . is the female. 



We have a specimen from Africa, so like this, as not to be 

 distinguished, but the under parts appear of a deeper bufl-colour. 



C 2 



