Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/142

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1308
Birds.

Since the occurrence of the above-mentioned specimen, a pair of these birds have been procured at South Walsham. They were killed in the summer of 1843.

The drawing above engraved, is, we believe, the first representation which has appeared of the nest of Savi's warbler. It was taken from one of the three nests mentioned at page 1212 of the 'Zoologist,' on the authority of Mr. Bond, to have been taken at Backsbite in the pa- rish of Milton, near Cambridge. "These nests in each instance were on the ground. They are cup-shaped, compactly formed of the long narrow leaves of the common reed (Arundo phragmitis) wound round and interlaced, but without any other lining."

One of the eggs strongly resembles the egg of the grasshopper warbler, being of a whitish-pink, covered with minute specks of pale red and light ash-grey.

We are much indebted to Mr. Bond for the opportunity which he has thus kindly afforded us, of figuring, from a specimen taken in this district, the nest of one of the rarest of the British Sylviadæ.

Reed Warbler, Salicaria arundinacea. A regular summer visiter, and breeds with us. It is not uncommon, but is more local in its ha- bits than the sedge warbler. It also breeds later than that bird, which lays its eggs early in May, whereas the nest of the reed warbler is fre- quently still empty in the beginning of June.

Nightingale, Philomela luscinia. The nightingale is a regular sum- mer visiter, and breeds with us. Its numbers vary considerably in dif- ferent localities, but on the whole it appears to be somewhat less nu- merous in Norfolk than in the more southern counties. It arrives, like the last species, in the month of April, and departs in September.

Blackcap, Curruca atricapilla. Common in summer, arriving about the end of March, and departing in September. It breeds in Norfolk.

Garden Warbler, Curruca hortensis. A summer visiter, and breeds in the county, but is not very numerous.

Common Whitethroat, Curruca cinerea. Common in summer, and breeds in the county.

Lesser Whitethroat, Curruca sylviella. Not numerous, but appears in summer, and breeds in the county.

Wood Warbler, Sylvia sylvicola. Common in summer, and nests with us, but appears to be chiefly confined to localities which abound in high trees. It appears like the three preceding species in April, and leaves in September.