[Illustration: THE BLACK-THROATED MEADOW WARBLER (_Pratincola rubicola_).]
The BLACK-THROATED MEADOW WARBLER (_Pratincola rubicola_), a species very
nearly allied to that above described, is black upon the throat and over
the entire upper part of the body; the under side is rust-red; the rump,
a spot upon the wings, and the sides of the neck are pure white. The
female is greyish black upon the throat and mantle, the feathers of the
latter edged with reddish yellow; the entire under side is of the latter
hue. Both these birds inhabit the continent of Europe and some portions
of Asia, and are often met with in Northern Africa during their winter
journeyings. All, however, do not migrate. We are told on good authority
that they are seen in Spain and Great Britain throughout the entire
year. Everywhere they show a very decided preference for cultivated
districts, and especially delight in well-watered pasture-land, or such
open fields as are upon the outskirts of woods; indeed, the more fruitful
the situation the more numerously do they congregate. Their voice is
sweet, full, and capable of producing a great variety of cadences.
Like most other members of their family, they sing almost incessantly
during the spring and early part of the summer, and are often to be
heard far into the night. The nests of both these species is loosely
formed of dry leaves, fibres, or grass, mixed with a little moss, lined
with some elastic material, such as a layer of horsehair. Grass-meadows
are generally selected, as affording situations adapted for building
purposes, and the nests are placed with so much care within hollows
on the ground, or beneath a low bush that, as frequently happens, the
brooding pairs are not discovered, either when the field is mowed, or
even when the haymakers have raked the grass from its surface. The
eggs, five or six in number, are broad in shape, with delicate, glossy,
light blueish green shells, and are laid from May to June. The female
alone broods; the eggs are hatched in about a fortnight. The young are
watched and tended with great care, and are saved from many enemies by
the prudence of their parents, who, should danger be at hand, remain
perfectly silent and motionless until the unwelcome visitor has left the
spot. As regards the movements, diet, and habits of these two species,
we will only add that in almost every essential particular they resemble
those of the Warblers already described.
* * * * *
The CLIPPERS (_Ephthianura_), another group of the same family, met with
in New Holland, are recognisable by their nearly straight beak, which
is shorter than the head, compressed at the sides, and incised close to
the tip. The third and fourth quills of the long wing exceed the rest in
length; the tail is short, and straight at its extremity; the legs are
long, the tarsi thin, and the toes slender. We are at present acquainted
with but few members of this interesting and probably numerous group.
[Illustration: THE WHEATEAR (_Saxicola œnanthe_).]