2 3- EPICUREAN w.
Description*
Female.
P lace and
Manners.
Motacilla ficedula, tin. By ft. I. p.330. N° \o.— Faun. Suec.
p. 33. N° 271.— Frifch. t. 22. (the.male.)
LeBecfigue, Brif vrn. iii. p.369. N° 1.— Buf. oif v. p. 187.— PI. enl. 668. 1.
Beccafico, Olin, uc. p. 11.—Rujf. Alep. p. 6\>— Raii Syn. 81. N° iz.—*Wi//.
orn. p. 227.
T HI S is a fmall bird,much lefs than our Cinereous Flycatcher:
length five inches. Bill blackilh : the upper parts are grey
brown; round the eye rufous white: under parts greyilh white,
with a tinge of brown on the breaft: lefier wing coverts grey
brown; the greater cinereous brown, tipped with white, forming
a band acrofs the wing : quills cinereous brown, edged with
greyilh brown, but the three neareft the body with white : tail
dulky, edged with grey brown ; t the. outer feather white the
whole way on the outer web, and the neck the fame for two-
thirds of its length : legs blackilh.
The female is much paler than the male.
This is a bird much efteemed on the continent for the delicate
flavour of its flelh. Is not found in England, but met with in
moll of the intermediate parts between Sweden and Greece; yet
it is only a fummer-inhabitant in any of them, probably retiring
Hill more fouth at the approach of winter. In the ille of Cyprus
and Candy they abound greatly, infomuch as to be an article of
commerce * ; and the Italians are as fond of them at this day, as
their forefathers were of old.
* “ They are falted up in great numbers, and tranfported into other coun-
<c tries.”—Willugh by-. Perhaps he means potted, like our Wheat-ears. They
alfo tranfport them in veffels filled with vinegar and fweet herbs j and the Ifle
fcf Cyprus alone collefts 1,000 or 1,200 of thefe pots every year. See Dapper
De/c. des IJles d'Archip. p. 51,
The
Their-chief food is infefts, except in autumn, when they make
great havock among the figs and grapes; whence it is fuppofed
their great delicacy in fome meafure arifes. I do not find any
defcription of the neft; it is faid to be difficult to find. The
male has little or no fong.
24.
FIG-EATER.
Description*
Place and
Manners*
La Fauvette tachetee, B r if orn• iii. p. 389* N° 9t—Buf. oif v, p. I49»"-
P I . enl. 581. 3.
Le Bouvier, Salerne, p. 226. 7.
Bparina, Raii Syn. 77. 7.— Will, orn. p. 217.— Aldr. av. ii. p. 734»
Fig-eater, Albin. iii. pi. 26.
T E N G T H five inches and a half. Bill reddilh brown : the
^ upper parts of the body and wings are rufous brown, varied
with yellowilh and alh-colour: beneath white : breaft yellowilh,
marked with black fpots: the quills are blackilh, edged with
yihite : tail the fame ; the two middle feathers Ihorter than the
yell: legs reddilh: claws black.
This is common in Italy, efpecially about Bologna, and is
chiefly feen in paftures where beafts * are kept. It makes the
neft about a foot from the ground, on fome Ihrubor ftrong plant;
is not eafily frightened from the neft ; and will fooner lofe its life
than fuffer the young to be hurt f .
* À perfequendo Boves, vulgô Boarolam, feu Boarinam nuncupantur.
Aldro'v.
+ Hijl. des oif.
VOL. II. 3 K L*