326 Passeres. BIRDS. Sylviid^. 
tiality for furze-covered commons even exceeds it ; but 
it is a bird of passage in this country, only dwelling with 
ns through the summer. The nest resembles that of 
the Stonechat, but the eggs are bluish- green, with a few 
very small specks of reddish-brown. 
THE WHEATEAR {SaxicolaQSnanthe), 'Nh\ch. is nearly 
allied to the preceding species, is a migratory bird, reach- 
ing us in March, and taking its departure for the south 
in September. It is much prized for the table and in 
the autumn great quantities of Wheatears are captured 
u[ion our south downs by the shepherds, by a simple 
trap consisting of a covered passage cut in the turf, 
within which is a small stick supporting two horse-hair 
nooses. The birds run into the passage at the least 
alarm, when they can hardly avoid catching their necks 
in one of the treacherous loops of horsehair. 
THE INDIAN NIGHTINGALE {Kittacincla macroura), 
a species nearly allied to the IStonechats and Redstarts, 
is a splendid songster, whicli, like the European night- 
ingale, sings beautifully at night. Mr. Tickell, describing 
the melody of this bird, says — “The strains sweep with 
a gush of sweetness through the enchanting solitudes 
which this bird makes its favourite resold, at times when 
other birds are silent in rest ; and in unison with the 
surrounding scenerjq in which Nature seems to have 
lavished every fantastic invention of beauty, the effect 
produced upon the mind and ear can alone be appre- 
ciated by those who have witnessed the magnificence 
of a tropical forest.” In Calcutta many thousands of 
these birds are kept in confinement, with their cages 
darkened by several folds of cloth wrapped round them, 
and the richer natives emploj^ servants to carry their 
birds about in the streets. Mr. Bh th informs us 
that the birds, although shut out from all light and air, 
“ like Mahometan ladies enjoying their evening drive,” 
nevertheless sing forth most lustily and melodiously. 
THE HEDGESPARROW {Accentor modularis).—0( 
the genus Accentor, which includes a considerable 
number of species, found in various parts of the world, 
we have one species which is an abundant and per- 
manent resident in Britain. This bird, the Iledge- 
warbler or Hedge-sparrow, is very generally distri- 
buted about hedges and gardens, where it builds its 
nest of moss and roots, lined with wool and hair, com- 
pleting it so early in the season that, from the hedges 
being bare of leaves, it is very easily discovered, and is 
consequently exposed to be plundered by every mis- 
chievous urchin that passes by. The delicate greenish- 
blue eggs of the Hedge-sparrow, indeed, generally 
constitute the greater proportion of those which are 
to be found on the strings of country-boys, so that, as 
Mr. Knapp observes, it is almost a wonder that the 
species is not extirpated. The birds, however, rear 
two broods in a season, which may to some extent 
compensate for the wholesale destruction of their eggs 
that takes place in the spring. The male Hedge- 
sparrow has a short but sweet song, which it continues 
to utter nearly all the year round. In the winter it 
frequently approaches houses like the Robin in search 
of food. 
THE YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER {Sericornis 
citreogularis), a native of the brushes of New South 
Wales, measures about six inches in length, and is of 
a brown colour, with the belly white, the throat yellow, 
and the sides of the face black ; above each eye is a 
long yellow streak. This bird constructs its nest in 
the bunches of moss which are often suspended from 
the extremities of the branches of trees in the Austra- 
lian forests, and which consequently swing about vio- 
lently when agitated by the wind. This, however, 
does not appear to disturb the bird, who probably 
considers that such an inconvenience is amply com- 
pensated by security from other dangers. 
THE YELLOW - TAILED ACANTHIZA {Acanthiza 
cliry.wrrhaa ). — Of several species of the genus Acan- 
thiza found in various parts of Australia, this is the 
most abundant and generally distributed, being found 
in all the southern parts of that continent, and also in 
Van Diemen’s Land. It is a small birrl, of an olive- 
brown colour above, whitish beneath, with the rump 
and upper tail-coverts bright yellow. It builds a domed 
nest of grasses and leaves, and rears three broods in 
the season. This is one of the birds in whose nest the 
Bronze Cuckoo of Australia deposits its egg. 
THE BLUE TIT {Parus caru’e'us), a well-known 
British bird, frequently called the Tomtit and the 
Titmouse, is a diminutive, but handsome, active, and 
lively creature. It is seen commonly in woods and 
plantations during the summer, but in tbe winter fre- 
quently resorts to gardens and orcliards, where it may 
be observed clinging to the branches in every possible 
position, engaged in a minute search for the insects 
which shelter themselves from the inclemency of the 
weather in the crevices of the bark and within the buds. 
The Blue Tit will also peck at meat, and has been 
known to visit the butchers’ shops for this purpose. 
The nest of this bird is made with a large quantity of 
moss, hair, and feathers in a hole in a wall or tree, 
and here the female lays usually from eight to ten 
eggs, although twelve, fourteen, and even eighteen 
have been found in a nest. The eggs are white, 
spotted with pale red. When sitting, the female 
exhibits great courage in the defence of her eggs ; she 
does not quit her nest when threatened with danger, 
but puffs out her featliers, hisses at tire intruder, and 
pecks at his fingers, a habit from whicli the boys in 
some parts of England have bestowed the expressive 
name of “ Billy Biter” upon the Blue Tit. This bird 
is abundant in all the temperate parts of the European 
continent, and is also recorded as a native of Japan 
and Formosa. 
THE GREAT TIT [Parus major), which is the 
largest species of its genus, measures nearly six inches 
in length, and like the preceding species, which it 
resembles in habits, is a common bird in this country. 
This bird is said occasionally to kill small birds by 
repeated blows on tbe head with his hard and sharp 
bill, after which he breaks open the skull, and picks 
out and eats the brains of his victim. 
THE COLE TIT [Parus ater) and the Marsh Tit 
[P. palustris), are common British species, especiallj- 
in tlie southern parts of the island ; the latter is 
distinguished by its preference for marshy districts, 
where it dwells amongst the willows and alders. 
THE CRESTED TIT [Paruscristatus), a less abundant 
species, distinguished by tbe possession of an elegant 
