BLYTH ON THE BRITISH FR UiT-EATlNG WARBLERS. 309 



group of birds, as might have been wished. In the common accepta- 

 tion of the term, the nightingales, the willow-wrens, arxdj even the 

 thrushes might, perhaps, with equal propriety be termed '^sylvan 

 warblers but if we describe a warble to be that|soft continuous flow of 

 pleasing melody with which the Ficedulac so frequently clrrm the ear, 

 the term "warbler" is undoubtedly more peculiarly applicable to the 

 birds of this genus than to any other European group whatever. 



The epithet " sylvan" I have employed, merely because it has been 

 so often used before to distinguish these birds from the aquatic warblers, 

 and because they are most generally known by that name. The garden- 

 warbler and the blackcap inhabit woods, and so does the babillard or 

 lesser whitethroat occasionally, but all three are more abundant in 

 orchards and gardens ; the latter is most frequently observed in hedges, 

 out of which a few tall trees (especially elms) grow ; and this species 

 and also the blackcap may sometimes be heard on commons, but only 

 where there are trees. The favourite haunts of the whitethroat are 

 thick tangled hedges, the outskirts of woods, and among the brambles 

 and furze on commons ; often in the most exposed situations, if there 

 are but a few low bushes to give it shelter. In the midst of thick 



oods they are rarely, if ever found, and it is only during the fruit 

 season that they occasionally venture into gardens. The Dartford war- 

 bler is rarely seen but amongst the very thickest furze ; I have, 

 however, once or twice observed it amongst the lavender fields at 

 Mitcham. Its habits are precisely similar to those of the whitethroat^ 

 except that, like the babillard, it is much quicker in all its motions. 

 This species, though it ranks among the sylvan warblers, is never seen 

 in a wood. 



The term " fruit-eating" warbler, also, is no less vague than "sylvan." 

 The aquatic warblers are, in confinement, as fond of fruit, or nearly so, 

 as some of the Ficeduhc; but I have not as yet been able to detect 

 either of our two common species (the reed and sedge warblers), as I 

 have the willow-wrens, in the act of pilfering the fruit when wild. 

 The willow-wrens are partial to some kinds of fruit, but they 

 will not touch cherries, although they are very commonly known in 

 many parts of Kent and Surrey by the provincial name cherry ■ choppers ; 

 a mistake originating in the very striking and singular resemblance 

 which the young garden- warblers {Ficedula hortensis) bear to these 

 bi 'ds. All the willow- wrens, however, are fond of soft pears, and, in 

 confinement, of a roasted apple. The nightingales I have never ob- 

 served to touch fruit of any kind, either in confinement, or when wild ; 

 nor does the arbour bird, or green nightingale {Sylvia polyglotla, 



