144 
SYLVIIN^. SYLVIA. 
derate lengtli, witli eigliteen quills ; the first minute and 
pointed, the third longest, the second and fourth very little 
shorter ; tail of moderate length, straight, slightly emarginate. 
The Warblers are small, delicate, active, and lively birds, 
which frequent woods, thickets, hedges, and gardens, feed on 
insects and small fruits, and have a pleasantly modulated 
song. Four species, all migratory, occur in Britain. 
78. Sylvia hortensis. Garden Warbler. 
Upper parts light greyish-brown, tinged with olive ; wings 
and tail dusky, margins of the quills and coverts of the same 
colour as the back, the lateral tail-feathers like the rest ; lower 
parts greyish- white, the breast and sides tinged with brown. 
Young similar, but with the upper parts of a richer yellowish- 
brown tint, the lower more tinged with yellow, the axillars 
and lower wing-coverts pure yellow. 
Male, 6 , 3;|^, ^^ 4 * Female, 5y§, 9. 
Arrives in the end of April and beginning of May, and is 
generally dispersed in England, as well as the south of Scot- 
land. It occurs chiefly in thickets, plantations, woods, and 
gardens, and from its plain colours and unobtrusive habits, 
attracts little attention. Its song is similar to that of the 
Blackcap. It feeds on insects and worms, as well as pulpy 
fruits, is extremely active and restless, rears two broods, and 
departs by the middle of September. The nest is frequently 
placed on the ground, and is loosely constructed. The eggs, 
from four to six, are nine- twelfths long, six and a half twelfths 
in breadth, dull white, dotted with light brown and grey. 
Fauvette. Garden Fauvet. Greater Pettychaps. Nettle- 
creeper. 
Sylvia hortensis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 507. — Sylvia hor- 
tensis, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. i. 206,-— Sylvia hortensis. Garden 
Warbler or Pettychaps, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, ii. 345. 
79. Sylvia Atricapilla. Blackcap Warbler. 
Male with the upper parts light yellowish-grey, the head 
black ; the lower parts ash-grey, paler behind, and tinged with 
yellow ; wings and tail greyish-brown. Female similar, but 
with the head reddish-brown. Young similar to the adult, 
but with the head greyish-brown. 
Male, 9 ^^ 8 y^^, y\, yf, Female, 6 y^ 5 -, 9:^. 
Arrives in April and departs in September, is generally dis- 
tributed in England, and occurs here and there in the south 
