PASSERINyE. 
191 
reddish-brown above, yellowish beneath, the throat white. [This species, which passes for a good songster^ 
though extremely comraon on the opposite coast of Holland, has not yet been detected in the British islands. A 
nearly allied species (-S^. oUvetomni, Strickland), which is rather smaller, is common in Syria. The rest are con- 
siderably less, and there is one of these, a miniature of S. turdoides, which is very common, though local, in South 
Britain, migrating in winter, as do all the rest : the S. arundinacea, Auct. They are the Calamoherpe, Meyer. 
Other species have smaller bills, and are generally striated on the back, with longitudinal whitish streaks on the 
head, the Calamodyta, Bonap. Among them we find] 
The Sedge Babbler {Mot. salicaria, Lin.; ^S. phragmitis, Kuct.']) distinguished by a conspicuous whitish streak 
over each eye. [This bird is also a common summer visitant in Britain, more generally distributed than the 
Reed Babbler {S. arundinacea) ; and is remarkable for the sparrow-like tone of many of its chirpings, which has 
induced an erroneous opinion that it is an imitator or mimic. There are several others. 
Some species, not far removed from the Babblers, are remarkable for the absence of bristles at the gape (which 
in the latter are rather conspicuous), for their graduated tail, composed of broad, soft feathers, their deli- 
cately-formed feet, with straight claws, and particularly for the singularity of their note, which consists of a pro- 
longed sibilant trill, somewhat resembling that of the Mole-cricket. They compose the Locustella of Gould, of 
which three species inhabit Europe. Such, in Britain, is 
Ray’s Locustelle {L. Raii, Auct.), or the Grasshopper Warbler of many writers, (fig. 88), the dorsal plumage of 
which is coloured like that of the Water Rail. It is common in many districts of this 
country, as a summer visitant, frequenting furze-brakes and other dense cover, 
where its singular voice is heard at all hours, but principally at dusk : while utter- 
ing this sound, it gapes very widely, and sometimes continues to emit it when 
flitting from bush to bush, or even hovering in the air. A larger species {L. flu- 
viatilis), common on the reedy margins of the Danube, utters precisely the same 
sound. The Sylvia certhiola, Tern., of eastern Europe, constitutes the third. 
Those which inhabit sylvan districts have, in general, stouter bills, and all feed 
more or less upon fruit, of which some are great devourers. They are very distinct 
from the foregoing, and several are delicate songsters. Such, in the British 
Fig. SS. — Kay's Locustelle. . , 
^ isles, are 
Tlie Blackcap Eauvet {Curruca atricapilla, Auct.)— Olive-brown above, ash-colour on the neck and lower parts, 
becoming whitish on the throat and belly ; a black, or, in the female and young, reddish-brown cap on the head. 
One of the finest of our native vocalists, remarkable for the melody of the loud clear whistle with which it termi- 
nates its lays. It inhabits gardens and the outskirts of woods, arrives early in spring, and is very frugivorous. 
The Garden Fauvet (C. hortensis) resembles the Blackcap in form, except that it is rather shorter ; its head is 
of the same colour with the back, and there is a little grey on the sides of the neck. This species is remarkable 
for the deep mellow tones of its voice, arrives late in spring, and is similar in all its habits to the preceding. 
Tlie other British species have white on the exterior tail-feathers, and pertain to a group the members of which 
are mostly less arboreal, frequenting low bushes. 
The White-breasted Fauvet (C. garrula) is, however, often heard from the summits of high trees, having nearly 
the same habits as the Blackcap. It is smaller than the preceding, with a proportionally more slender bill ; and 
ashy-brown above, pure grey on the head and neck, silvery white below, the feet lead-coloured. Is common in 
gardens, and has a low warbling song, with a loud inharmonious finish. 
The Whitethroat Fauvet (C. cinerea), is larger and browner than the last, with some mahogany-colour on the 
wings ; feet yellowish. This species, exceedingly common about hedges and low brake, is seldom seen upon trees, 
and is an inferior chattering songster, that often ascends singing to a small height in the air, with peculiar ges- 
ticulations. Lastly, 
The Long-tailed Fauvette (C. provincialis), made into a genus Melizophilus by Leach, on account of its shorter 
wings and more graduated tail, wherein it only differs in a slight degree from some others, as C. Sarda, &c., is 
remarkable for being resident throughout the year in furze-brakes in some parts of the south of England. Its 
manners exactly resemble those of the Whitethroat. Colour dark ashy-brown, vinaceous-red below. 
There are several continental species allied to all the above.] 
Bechstein has separated from the Fauvettes 
The Dunnocks {Accentor, B.), — 
The heak of which, still slender, hut more exactly conical than that of other Bec-fins [and also rather 
sharply pointed] , is slightly retracted at the edges. Their gizzard also is more fleshy. 
The Alpine Dunnock {Mot. alpina, also Sturnus alpinus and St. collaris, Gm.). — An ashy-coloured bird [mixed 
with brown], with a white throat sprinkled with black, two ranges of white spots on the wing, and some bright 
rufous on the flanks. It inhabits the pastures of the high Alps, where it feeds on insects, descending however in 
winter into the plains to pick up grain. [A species of rare occurrence in the British islands.] 
The Hedge Dunnock {Mot. modularis, Lin.), [currently termed the Hedge Sparrow. — This well-known species is 
resident in this country at all seasons, but the majority quit France in summer; emits a pleasing shrill 
song, particularly in early spring, which is accompanied by a peculiar shiver of the wings : it feeds very much 
on small seeds. There are a few others, of which one, A. montinellus, belongs to eastern Europe. The Dunnocks 
grade from the Thrushes through Cinclosoma. 
