386 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
though a few stragglers are often met with for some weeks 
afterwards. This species lias most erroneously been de- 
sei'ibed to keep wholly to the closest underwood, whereas it 
passes its time chiefly upon trees, often at a considerable 
height from the ground, and is nowhere found but in their 
immediate vicinity. It is a bird little known, considering 
its abundance, and also the familiarity of its habits, the 
general character of its haunts much resembling those of its 
J musical congener the blackcap. It is particularly common 
about little cottage gardens, and indeed everywhere affects 
! gardens and neighbourhoods, often building in ornamental 
j shrubs close to the house. It is also plentiful about tall and 
thick hawthorn hedges, but is never found (like the white- 
throat) in open and exposed places, nor does it ever mount 
singing into the air (like that species), though its notes may j 
be occasionally heard, as it flutters, in a vacillating manner, 
from tree to tree. Its song is very low and weak, and may 
be easily recognised by the frequent recurrence of a note 
like sip, sip, sip; but, after warbling in this strain conti¬ 
nuously for a few seconds, it always terminates with a loud 
and shrill shivering cry, which is monotonous and unpleasing, 
though analogous to the lively whistle of the blackcap. Not 
unfrequently it emits this cry without any previous warble, 
and it utters also the same check as its congeners, and some¬ 
times also a peculiar inward rolling note, which it has in 
common with the furzelin, or Hartford warbler, to which 
species it is allied (and immediately connected by means of 
an exotic congener), and winch at least in confinement it 
considerably resembles in its manners, both these little birds 
sometimes climbing up the wires of their cage in a manner 
that is not observable in the other fauvets. An individual I 
formerly kept in captivity, in a spacious cage, was exceedingly 
active in its habits, sometimes darting about so rapidly that 
the eye could scarcely follow; and it used frequently, and 
many times in succession, to perform quick somersets in the 
air, throwing itself over backwards, a habit which I have 
noticed in others of the same species in a captive state. It 
is a determined fruit-eater in the season, hardly inferior in 
this respect to the blackcap, and in the spring is very expert 
in the capture of winged insects, though it never leaves its 
perch in order to seize them, but snaps at them the moment 
they are within reach. It also feeds a good deal, like the 
pettychaps genus, upon small caterpillars, and like them is a 
great destroyer of aphides. It also resembles them in 
the extreme pugnacity of its disposition, which I have ob¬ 
served, not only in confinement, but in the wild state, a 
quality in which it much differs from its British congeners. 
The male and female axe quite alike in plumage, and some 
of the older individuals have the irides of a beautiful and 
conspicuous pearly white, which adds much to the handsome¬ 
ness of their appearance ; many have also a delicate blush 
on their under parts, which is likewise frequently observable 
in the male wliitethroat. The nest is smaller than that of 
the last-mentioned species, and is always lined with fibrous 
rootlets; the eggs, four or five in number, are also of less 
size than those of that bird, but have the markings more 
defined, and larger. 
“ The sexes are very much alike; and, for the information 
of those who may wish to keep one in confinement, I may 
state, that the only difference 1 could ever perceive between 
them, consisted in the more rufous tint of the under surface 
of the wing in the cock bird. Its melody resembles some¬ 
what the continuous note of the blackcap, but is softer, much 
deeper, and more flute-like in its tone, approaching to the 
mellifluous warble of the blackbird. As it proceeds, it in¬ 
creases gradually in spirit and loudness, and often ends with 
a rich and dulcet melodious flourish, though never so clear 
and loud as the lively, spirit-stirring music of its congener 
the blackcap. I have noticed it to sing with great spirit 
against a nightingale, determined not to be outdone; and 
indeed the peculiar' sweetness of its lay must ever render it 
a prime favourite with those who love to listen to the wild 
music of the groves. Its habits are exactly similar to those 
of the blackcap, which it also resembles in its nidification ; 
but differs in being one of the latest to arrive of all our sum¬ 
mer birds of passage, whence probably it is, generally speak¬ 
ing, so little known. It is seldom heal'd much before the 
beginning of May, but does not, as has been said, depart 
earlier than its congeners. Its eggs are of a grayer tinge 
than those of the blackcap.” 
[September 19. 
WINTERING BEES. 
To save trouble, and for the sake of greater publicity, we 
now print the table which “ A Country Curate ” wishes to 
have filled up by those who try the desired and desirable 
experiment of burying one or more hives this winter. The 
hives to be buried should be bound round with straw, some¬ 
what thickly; and they should be plastered down with clay or 
cement to a bottom-board—if of stone, so much the better,— 
saving only the small hole, wherein the tube is inserted. 
What sort of Hives 
have been buried ; 
swarms, casts, 
old stocks, or 
preserved bees. 
o . 
P 
?o » It 
o Q Co 
n- P-S ^ 
g E/? 3 
3 o S o- 
Date 
of 
Interment. 
Whether in earth, 
and in what soil, if so ; 
or in a shed or 
outhouse, on a stone, 
and under leaves. 
State of 
weather 
when 
interred. 
a 
Probable 
age of 
Queen. 
Estimated 
weight of 
contents of hives 
at time of 
interment. 
[ Estimated 
| weight of 
contents 
when 
1 disinterred. 
At what time 
were the 
stocks 
disinterred. 
State of 
hives 
on being 
disinterred. 
| 
What 
perceptible 
consumption 
of food. 
Further 
Observations 
N.B.—It is requested that a paper copied from this be forwarded to the 
Editor of Tin Cottage Gabdener, some time in the interval between 
the 1st and 10th of April in the ensuing spring. And it is recommended 
