103. A ed on g a l a c t o d e s ...................................................................................................................... Vol. II. PI. LIII.
R u fo u s S ed g e W a r b l e r .
Spain, Greece, Asia Minor, and North Africa are among the countries frequented by this species, which,
having been only twice killed in England, must be enumerated among its rarest visitants.
“ The Rufous Sedge Warbler is evidently only a summer migrant in the north o f Algeria. On my return
from the Mzab country in May, I saw scores where there had not previously been one, and generally away
from water. It has a curious habit o f raising its ta il; it is hardly ever seen in any other position. Our common
British Nightingale has the same habit in a less d e g re e ; but with the Rufous Sedge Warbler it appears to
be natural to keep it ra is e d ; whether the bird is in motion o r a t rest, the tail is only depressed at
intervals.”—J . H. G u rn ey, jun.
Family ACCENTORINiE.
A group o f Old-World birds, some species o f which inhabit Europe and Asia, from the British Islands to
Kamtschatka and Japan. They have been subdivided into three genera, Accentor, Spermolegus, and
Tharrlaleus, the types o f the first and third o f which are natives of Britain, namely A . alpinus and
T . modularis. I have, however, kept them both in the genus Accentor.
Genus A c c e n t o r .
104. A c c en to r a l p in u s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. LIV.
A l p in e A cc en to r .
Common in Switzerland and other rocky countries o f Southern and Eastern Europe. An accidental
visitant to England, where it has been killed or seen about a dozen times.
105. A cc en to r m o d u la r is . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. LV
H e d g e -A c c en to r o r H ed g e -S par row .
Resident in the three kingdoms; common in gardens. A tame, pleasing, and harmless little bird. Lives
on insects. Inhabits most parts o f Europe and Malta, where I have shot examples.
Family SYLVIIDJE.
Comprises a very large number of species, which are inhabitants o f the older known portion o f the globe.
About fifteen are enumerated in the British avifauna, as belonging to the genera Sylvia, Curruca, Luscinia,
Melizophilus, Phyllopneuste, Ficedula, Regulus, Reguloides, &c.
Genus L u sc in ia .
A very well-defined genus, comprising two species, both o f which are summer birds in Central Europe.
One o f them, our well-known Nightingale, comes to us in spring, and retires again in autumn. I t has been
ascertained that both species winter in more southern climes; but we really know little respecting the extent
o f their range in that direction.
106. L u sc in ia Ph i l o m e l a .............................................................................................................Vol. II. PI. LVI.
N ig h t in g a l e .
A summer migrant to the southern and central parts o f England, but not to Scotland or Ireland. A full
account o f this charming bird will be found opposite the Plate on which it is represented.
Genus S ylvia.
In the present work both the Whitethroats have been regarded as typical examples of the genus Sylvia.
These and some other species abound in Europe during the months o f summer; others, again, are spread
over Northern Africa, India, and China. Their food consists o f insects and berries.
107. S ylvia c in e r ea . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. LVII.
W h it e t h r o a t .
When spring assumes her most cheery aspect, our hedges put forth their leafy verdure, and the goose-
grass ramifies among the herbage o f the ditches, the saucy Whitethroat makes its appearance, and, after
spending the summer and rearing its brood, departs again in autumn to winter in warmer climes. I t is,
therefore, a true summer migrant, which visits all the three kingdoms, but is rather scarce in some parts of
Scotland.
108. S ylvia cu r ru ca . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. LVIII.
L e s s e r W h it e t h r o a t .
A summer migrant from the south, which arrives rather later than the preceding species, betakes itself
to gardens and woodlands, sings its garrulous peculiar song while searching for aphides and other insects
among the leaves o f the cherry- and other trees o f the garden or forest, is spread over the central portion
o f England, is rare in Cornwall and Scotland, and has not been seen in Ireland.
Genus M e l iz o ph il u s .
Mr. G. R. Gray enumerates, in his recently published ‘ Hand-list o f Birds,’ three species o f this genus ;
but I feel assured that our well-known Dartford Warbler must stand as its sole representative.