174 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Sifoidtfce]. 



" Blackcap Warbler." {Curruca atricapilla.) This active little war- 

 bler is second only to the nightingale in song, and being a regular 

 summer visitant to our gardens and orchards, as well as hedgerows, 

 is known to most observers: its general colour is ash grey, but its 

 jet black head marks it at once from all others: insects and fruit 

 are its favourite food, but few will quarrel with it on the latter ac- 

 count, as it makes ample amends for any petty thefts it may com- 

 mit in the garden by the sweetness of its song, and its interesting 

 and engaging manners : it is a timid bird and very restless, scarcely 

 stationary an instant, except when it pours forth its rich and clear 

 notes from the top of some tree or bush. Mr. Marsh thinks it is 

 not very common in Wiltshire, but my own observation does not 

 agree here, as I have seen it frequently in many parts of the county ; 

 and it arrives here as well as in the neighbourhood of Devizes re- 

 gularly every spring in some numbers. 



" Garden Warbler." {Curruca hortensis.) Though closely re- 

 sembling in general colour and appearance several others of this 

 family, the garden warbler may on comparison be distinguished 

 from its congeners by its superior size, being nearly an inch longer 

 than any other species answering to the same description. Its 

 plumage is greyish green above, and greenish yellow below : it is 

 even more restless, more shy, and more retiring than the last de- 

 scribed, and is at least equally common. It frequents the same 

 localities, has the same propensity for fruit, and is an excellent 

 songster : this and the two following species are indiscriminately 

 called "Nettle Creepers" by our Wiltshire lads. It is the "Greater 

 Pettychaps " of Pennant, Latham, Montagu, White, and our ear- 

 lier ornithologists : and it is the famous " Beccafico," so highly 

 prized as an epicure's morsel in Italy and France. Montagu says 

 of it; " In Wiltshire where I have found this species not uncommon, 

 it resorts to gardens in the latter end of summer, together with the 

 Whitethroat and Blackcap for the sake of currants and other fruit." 



"Common Whitethroat." {Curruca cinerea.) This is the com- 

 monest of all our little summer warblers, and may be seen in every 

 shady lane or thick hedge, almost in every bramble and bed of 

 nettles. Its head and back are light brown, under parts dusky 



