WARBLER. 195 



Inhabits St. Domingo, and is a most beautiful Species : it makes 

 a singular kind of nest, composed of small dry fibres of plants, 

 tender roots, and decayed leaves ; this hangs by the top, and plays 

 with every blast of wind ; the opening is beneath, through which 

 the bird rises some way upwards, over a kind of partition, and 

 descends again to the bottom, on which the eggs, which are three 

 or four in number, are laid, upon a soft downy matter ; and on this 

 the brood is hatched in perfect safety : said to breed more than once 

 in the year, for the young have been observed in June, and again 

 in March, and even a third time at the end of August, or beginning 

 of September. The nests are seen frequently suspended on the 

 withs which hang from tree to tree, and chiefly such as are over the 

 water, whereby the security is made more certain. The song of this 

 bird said to be very delicate, and is continued throughout the year; 

 though not at all times equal. The female too has a song, but much 

 inferior to that of the male ; chiefly feeds on insects, and will at 

 times attack fruits of the luscious kind, but whether for the sake of 

 them alone, or the insects which infest them, is not known. Mr. 

 Abbot informs us, that it is frequently seen in the Pine Thickets, 

 about the neighbourhood of Savanna, in Georgia, in summer, but 

 is less common than many others. 



259- SPECTACLE WARBLER. 



Sylvia perspicillata, Ind. Orn. ii. 524. 



Motacilla perspicillata, Gtn. Lin. i. 969. 



Le Clignot, ou Traquet a Lunettes, Buf. v. 234, 



Le Bee argente, Voy. d'Azara, iii. No. 228. 



Spectacle Warbler, Gen. Syn. iv. 452. Shaw's Zool. x. 631. 



SIZE of a Goldfinch ; length five inches and three quarters, 

 expanse ten. The bill is broader than thick, straight, with the point 

 a little curved, a few hairs at the gape and nostrils; plumage fine 

 black, except the wing coverts, on which is a spot of white; round 



c c 2 



