[Illustration]
Locustella avicula, RAY; Sylvia locustella, LATHAM; L'Alouette
locustelle, BUFFON; Der Fleuschrechensanger, MEYER.
This species is less than the white-throat; length five inches and a
half; weight about three drachms and a quarter. The bill is dusky above,
whitish beneath; irides light hazel. The whole upper parts of the bird
are olivaceous brown; the middle of each feather dusky, except on the
back of the neck, which gives it a pretty spotted appearance; the tail
is much cuneiform, and the feathers somewhat pointed, which is a very
marked and peculiar character in this species; the outer feather being
full an inch shorter than the middle ones, and nearly rounded at the
tips, the wing remarkably short, reaching very little beyond the base of
the tail; legs very pale brown; claws light-horn colour; hind claw short
and crooked.
In shape, the grasshopper warbler very much resembles the sedge-bird; is
rather inferior in size, and at once distinguished by its spotted back.