THE GREATER PETTICHAPS, 

 OR FAUVETTE. 



Sylvia hortensis, Lath. 



The Petticiiaps, or Garden Warbler, is a shorter 

 bird than the Whitethroat ; but it is thicker and 

 heavier. The whole of the upper part is of a dull 

 green, with a shade of grey, and a patch of ash- 

 grey pretty far down upon each side of the neck. 

 The whole of the under part has a tinge of grey ; 

 but the predominant tints are white on the throat 

 and vent, and brownish yellow on the breast and 

 flanks : the eyes also are surrounded with white. 



The female differs only in having the under part 

 of the body as far as the breast of a lighter colour. 



" It first visits us," says Sweet, " in the spring, 

 about the latter end of April or the beginning of 

 May ; and its arrival is soon made known by its 

 very loud and long song. It generally begins very 

 low, not unlike the song of the Swallow, but raises 

 it by degrees, until it resembles the song of the 

 Blackbird, singing nearly all through the day, and 

 the greater part of the time that it stays with us, 

 which is but short, as it leaves us again in August. 

 In confinement it will sing nearly all through the 

 year, if it be treated well. In a wild state it is 

 generally found in gardens and plantations, where 



