MEASURES rather more than five inches in length. The bill and eyes are black; forehead white; cheeks, throat, fore part and sides of the neck black, which colour extends over each eye; the crown of the head, . hinder part of the neck, and the back are of a deep blue grey; in some, probably old birds, this grey is almost black; the breast, rump, and sides are of a fine glowing red, inclining to orange, which extends to all the feathers of the tail, excepting the two middle ones, which are brown; the belly is white; feet and claws black. The female differs considerably from the male; her colours are not so vivid: the top of the head and back are ash grey; chin white.

The Redstart is migratory; it appears about the middle of April, and departs in the end of September, or beginning of October; it frequents old walls and ruinous edifices, where it makes its nest, composed chiefly of moss, lined with hair and feathers. It is distinguished by a peculiar quick shake of its tail from side to side, when it alights. Though wild and timorous, it is frequently found in the midst of cities, always chusing the most inaccessible places for its residence it likewise builds in forests, in holes of trees, or in high and dangerous precipices. The female lays four or five eggs, not much unlike those of the Hedgewarbler, but somewhat longer. These birds feed on flies, spiders, the eggs of ants, small berries, soft fruits, and such like. The young are thickly freckled with tawny spots, and might readily be mistaken for the young of the Redbreast, but for the vivid horizontal motion of the tail, which begins as soon as they fly.

THE GARDEN WARBLER.

(Sylvia Hortensis, Montagu.-La Fauvette, Buff.)

LENGTH about six inches. Bill dusky; a pale streak passes over the eyes, which are deep hazel; the whole upper part of the body is darkish brown, tinged with olive; the wing coverts and outer webs of the secondaries are edged with pale brown, those of the primaries with dull ash; tail feathers the same, excepting the outermost, which are white on the exterior edges and tips; throat and belly silvery white; legs dark brown.

This bird frequents thickets, and is seldom to be seen out of covert; it secretes itself in the thickest parts of the bushes, where it may be heard but not seen. It is truly a mocking bird, imitating the notes of various kinds, generally beginning with those of the Swallow, and ending with the full song of the Blackbird. We have often watched with the utmost attention whilst it was singing delightfully in the midst of a bush close at hand, but have seldom been able to obtain a sight of it, and could never procure more than one specimen. Its appearance with us does not seem to be regular. We suppose this to be the same with the Fauvette of M. Buffon, which he places at the head of a numerous

In former editions, we used the term Fauvette to designate some of this genus, but now prefer that of Warbler, as better suited to our language. We apprehend this to be the Flycatcher of PennantBr. Zool. vol. 2, p. 264, 1st. ed. and the Lesser Pettichaps of Latham, which, he says, is known in Yorkshire by the name of the Beambird; but he does not speak from his own knowledge of the bird, and is mis

family, consisting of ten distinct species, many of which visit this island in the spring, and leave it again in autumn. "These pretty warblers," says he, "arrive when the trees put forth their leaves, and begin to expand their blossoms; they are dispersed through the whole extent of our plains; some inhabit our gardens, others prefer the clumps and avenues; some conceal themselves among the reeds, and many retire to the midst of the woods." But, notwithstanding their numbers, this family is confessedly obscure and indetermined. We have taken much pains to gain a competent knowledge of the various kinds which visit our island, and have procured specimens of most, if not all of them, but confess that we have been much puzzled in reconciling their provincial names with the synonima of the different authors who have noticed them.

taken. It certainly is but little known, and has no common name in this country. Montagu calls it Sylvia Hortensis, and says it is not the Motacilla Hippolais of Linnæus. The Germans call it the Bastard Nightingale.

(Motacilla passerina, Linn.-La Passerinette, Buff.)

LENGTH nearly the same as the last. Bill pale brown; upper parts of the body brown, tinged with olive green; under parts dingy white, a little inclining to brown across the breast; quills dusky, with pale edges; tail dusky; over each eye is an indistinct whitish line: legs pale brown. The male and female are said to be much alike. The eggs are dull white irregularly marked with dusky spots. This bird is also a mocker, but its song is not so powerful as that of the last. Our specimen is somewhat less, and of a paler plumage than the Garden Warbler, but whether it may be the female, a variety, or a distinct species, the author has never been able to ascertain.