CHAPTER XLIII. 



The Babillard. 



Motacilla curruca, Lin. ; Motacilla curruca, or La Fauvette 

 Bahillarde, Buf. 



Description and Character. — The Babillard, or White-breasted 

 Warbler, is a neat, lively little bird, and greatly resembles the 

 Whitethroat in appearance. It is not, however, considered by 

 some to be such a pleasing songster as that bird, although 

 greatly esteemed by some fanciers on account of its vocal accom- 

 plishments. It is a docile, tractable bird, when hand reared, and 

 becomes much attached to those who attend to its wants. It 

 soon becomes reconciled to domestication, and, with a little atten- 

 tion, can be rendered free and familiar. In a wild state, however, 

 it is very shy, and difficult to approach. 



A fully-grown specimen is 5in. in length, of which the tail 

 measures 2^m. The beak is long, thin, and pointed, the upper 

 mandible being black, and the lower bluish black. The iris has 

 two rings, the outer one yellowish white, and the inner yellowish 

 brown. The head is rufous grey ; the cheeks are the same colour, 

 but darker. The rest of the upper part of the body is grey, with 

 a tinge of red ; the rump is a few shades darker, and redder. 

 The throat, breast, belly, and vent, are white, the sides of the 

 breast being tinged with red. The wings are dark brown, edged 

 with reddish grey ; the smaller coverts are pale brown, and the 

 larger ones dark brown, margined with rufous grey. The tail is 

 dark brown, the exterior feathers having a white spot near the 

 tip ; the others are bordered with russet grey. The legs are 

 dingy coloured, and the feet blackish blue. 



