B A R R E D WA R B L E R .
Curruca nisoria.
Le Bec-fin rayée.
The principal feature peculiar to this rare species consists in its comparatively large size to that of the
Warblers m genera], in its lengthened and elegant form, and in its grey tone of colouring relieved by
numerous transverse bars of black and white. In assigning it to the genus Chmmo, which we do with some
hesitation, we are influenced by the feet that of all the groups of the SgMadoe, it is to this that it makes the
nearest approach. It is not a native of the British Isles, nor, as far as we are aware, has it been found in
France or Holland; it is, however, tolerably common in many parts of Germany. Never having, ourselves
seen this bird in a state of nature, we prefer quoting the observations of M. Temmmck, who informs us that
it inhabits bushes and thickets, is abundantly spread throughout the North, occurring in Sweden and in the
provinces of the North of Germany and Hungary = it is of more rare occurrence in Austria, and it is also
round in Lombardy.
Its food consists of insects, caterpillars, worms, and berries.
It builds im nest iu tufted hawthorn bashes, lays four or five eggs, of a whitish colour blotched with purplish
ash or pure ash colour. r v
M. Temmmck describes the male and female as offering considerable difference in the marking of the plumage.
In the specimens that have fellen under our notice this difference has appeared hot very trifling It
may be best, however, to give the colouring from M. Temminck. That of the adult male is as follows
Head, cheek, back of the neck, and back, of a deep grey, as are also the scapulars and ramp, but all the
feathers of these parts are terminated by a small bar of brown and another of white ; the wings are of a
lighter ash colour, the outer feather having a large blotch of white at its extremity ; this blotch of white is
not so apparent on the second, and still less so on the third and fourth feathere : all the under surface is
whitish transversely barred with ashy grey ; under tail-coverts are grey with large white edges ; beak brown •
îrides brilliant yellow. ’
The female has the upper surface of an ash colour, clouded with brown but without transverse bars • the
flanks slightly clouded wtth reddish ; the white at the extremity of the tail is more circumscribed and less
pure.
The young before their first moult have the whole of the body marked with minute transverse rays of ashy
brown ; 1 rides brown. 3
The Plate represents a male of the natural size.