. Our native songsters . e larynx to pronounce this caged, and by itself in a room, it rarelyutters the clacking tones, and at that time itsvoice is peculiarly sweet and agreeable. Boththere, and in its wild bough, its warbling is almostincessant, so as to deserve its name of babbler. This bird usually builds its nest among bramblesand low underwood. This is generally formed ofstrong coarse grasses, lined inside with some finerkinds, with fibrous roots and horsehair. Theeggs are smaller than those of the common white-throat ; sparingly spotted and speckled, chiefly atthe larger e
. Our native songsters . e larynx to pronounce this caged, and by itself in a room, it rarelyutters the clacking tones, and at that time itsvoice is peculiarly sweet and agreeable. Boththere, and in its wild bough, its warbling is almostincessant, so as to deserve its name of babbler. This bird usually builds its nest among bramblesand low underwood. This is generally formed ofstrong coarse grasses, lined inside with some finerkinds, with fibrous roots and horsehair. Theeggs are smaller than those of the common white-throat ; sparingly spotted and speckled, chiefly atthe larger end, with light brown and grey. Theyare about fi^c in number. This bird is very generally diffused over the 166 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. temperate and wanner parts of Europe and manners and habits are similar to those^ of thelarger species, and, like it, its food consists ofinsects, varied with berries. It frequents thickcopses and licdgerows, and sometimes may beheard or seen on the top of a tall ehn or CHAPTER V. WHEATEAR STONECHAT—WHIXCHAT. If in spring and early summer there is a rich-ness and beauty in our woods and meadows, sotoo, at these seasons, the wide-spread downs haveattractions of their own. Desolate indeed theyseem in winter, as the wind sweeps sullenly overtheir short grassy turf, bowing down the slendergreen twigs of the broom, or the sturdier branchesof the ling, and making a moan through the stiffspiny boughs of the fmze. We can then seelittle there that has a brighter tinge than thegrass, save an occasional blossom on the furze,which is of paler yellow and less wide expansionthan the bloom of summer; or we may look upona tuft of emerald moss, or a bright whitish gieylichen hanging around the trunk of a solitarytree, or a gay orange or pale yellow fungus at itsbase; or perchance we may stoop to gather thelittle crimson mushroom-like object which glitters 168 OUR NATIVE SONGSTEES. among the grass, or the tiny vases of the scarletcup-moss gr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1853
