84 WARBLER. 



Le Becfigue, Bit/, v. 187. PI. enl. 6G8. 1. Hist. Prov. i. 504. 



Beccafico, Olin. t. p. 81. Russ. Alep. p. 64. Get. lie. Sard. p. 221. 



The 4th Becafigo of Aldrovand, Will. Engl. 227. 



Wustling, Gunth. Nest. u. F.y. t. 59. 



Epicurean Warbler, Gen. Syn. iv. 432. Arct. Zool. ii. 419. K. Shaw's Zool. x. 592. 



THE length of this bird is five inches. Bill blackish ; the 

 upper parts of the plumage grey brown, the under greyish white, 

 tinged with brown on the breast ; round the eye rufous white ; the 

 greater wing coverts incline to ash-colour, tipped with white, form- 

 ing a band across the wing ; quills cinereous brown, edged with 

 greyish brown, but the three nearest the body with white ; tail 

 dusky, the feathers edged as the quills, the outer one white the whole 

 way on the outer web, and the next the same for two-thirds of its 

 length. The female is like the male, but paler. 



This bird is much esteemed for the delicate flavour of its flesh ; 

 it is not found in England, but met with in summer every where on 

 the Continent, from Sweden and Greece, retiring no doubt southward 

 in autumn. In the Isle of Cyprus and Candy are in such plenty as 

 to afford an article of commerce,* and the Italians are as fond of 

 them now as they used to be of old. The Chief food appears to be 

 insects, except in autumn, when they make great havock among the 

 figs and grapes ; whence it is supposed their great delicacy in some 

 measure arises. According to Gunther, the nest is of dried fibres, grass, 

 and moss, the eggs six in number, of a reddish white, almost covered 

 at the larger end with ferruginous spots, towards the smaller fewer, 

 and more scattered. 



Mr. White observes, that this species is common at Gibraltar, 

 and there called Cyprus Bird or Beccafico ; and hints the very great 



* They are salted up in great numbers, and transported into other countries. — Will. 

 Probably potted, like our Wheat-ears. They also transport them in vessels filled with 

 vinegar and sweet herbs ; and the Isle of Cyprus alone collects 1000 or 1200 of these pots 

 every year. — Dapper Archipel. p. 51. 



