. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . gratory, arriving in the spring, anddeparting at the fall of the leaf. Living, except in autumn, almostexclusively on insects and their larvae, they render in this respecteminent services to man ; but it is a curious fact that at that periodthese birds cease to be insectivorous, and feed on fruits—principallyfigs and grapes, whence the name of hec-figues applied to them in theSouth of France. By gourmets they are most eagerly sought afterfor their flesh, which
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. . gratory, arriving in the spring, anddeparting at the fall of the leaf. Living, except in autumn, almostexclusively on insects and their larvae, they render in this respecteminent services to man ; but it is a curious fact that at that periodthese birds cease to be insectivorous, and feed on fruits—principallyfigs and grapes, whence the name of hec-figues applied to them in theSouth of France. By gourmets they are most eagerly sought afterfor their flesh, which is considered most delicate. THE 515 Warblers prefer a partially enclosed country, sloping;hill-sides, orthe banks of rivers clothed with trees and shrubs, for their haunts. In the first rank of the Warblers stands the Nightingale {Philomelalusdnia, Fig. 226), celebrated all over the world for its song, which issuperior, without any doubt, to that of all other birds. In size it issomewhat greater than the Garden Warbler, which it resembles in itssober attire. Many have been the attempts made to describe this far-. Fig. 226.— The Nightinjjale. -famed bird. Naturally shy, the Nightingale retires into t^^e closest andmost sheltered places, rarely exposing itself to ooservation. Brush-wood and thickets, wych-elms and evergreen trees, growing on th^banks of some retired watercourse, are its favourite dwelling. It. these that it establishes its nest, built without care, at irregularheights, and sometimes even on the ground. The Nightingale pos-sesses this peculiarity—that it sings not only during the day, but alsoin the night; but let any alarming noise approach its retreat, and,,ijtstops instantly. It seenisto love solitude above all Audubon,the American naturalist,; has described some of the distinctive-,qharac- h h 2 ■ 5l6 REPTILES AND BIRDS. teristics of ttie bird with a few graphic touches. He has left hisdowny couch, and sallied forth to
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectrep
