Poi ACT Eas 
This bird meafures five inches from the tip of the bill to the erid of 
the tail: it is of a lively appearance, though not very beautiful in the 
colours of its plumage; and deferves our immediate attention as one of 
the leaft known fpecies we have in this country. 
It isa native of France as well as of England. In Provence it is 
_commonly found among cabbages: it feeds on the infects that harbour 
among thofe vegetables, and not unfrequently conceals itfelf under the 
fhelter of the leaves during the night. 
A friend of Mr. Latham’s fhot a pair of thofe birds on Bexley Heath, 
near Dartford in Kent, April the 1oth, 1773, as they were fitting on 
afurze bufh: they fed on flies; fpringing from the bufh every time 
one approached near, and returning to the fame place repeatedly; 
thereby imitating, as he obferves, the manners of our Cinercous 
Flycatcher. 
f 
This fpecies refides with us in the winter. Several fpecimens, 
which are now preferved in the Leverian Mufeum, were fhot an a 
common near Wandfworth in Surrey, 1782. 
Mr. Latham appears to entertain fome doubt, whether this fpecies 
ever breeds in France *. He fays an intelligent obferver of Englifh 
Birds + has informed him, that he never met with this fpecies in the 
neighbourhood of London, except in winter ; and that it difappears be- 
fore the end of April. Should this be the general fat, he can by no 
means reconcile the circumftance of its breeding in France, as all mi- 
eratory birds retire northw4rd to breed, not to a warmer climate ; and 
fhould rather fuppofe, that if it does not quit Aug/and in fummer, it 
will hereafter be found in the northern parts of it. 
* Hitt, des Ois. v. po 158, + Mr, Green, | 
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