The SPECTACLED WARBLER (_Curruca conspicillata_) is five inches long
and six and three-quarters broad; the wing and tail each measure about
two inches. The head of this species is dark grey; the upper part of
the body of a lighter grey, shaded with rust-red; the under side and
quills are grey; the outer web of the secondaries and of the feathers
on the upper wing-covers broadly edged with rust-red; the outer web of
the exterior tail-feathers is white, almost to the root; the inner web
of all the tail-feathers is decorated with a more or less distinctly
indicated triangular patch. The light reddish-brown eye is surrounded by
a white ring; the feathers above the ears are grey; the beak flesh-pink
at its base, and black at the tip; the foot is either yellowish pink or
reddish grey. The young are distinguishable from the adult birds by the
pure grey colour of their breast. In this species the fourth wing-quill
is the longest. The Spectacled Warblers inhabit all of the more southern
countries of Europe, and usually remain throughout the year in their
native lands. In their habits they closely resemble the species above
described, but are generally met with in districts overgrown with low
bushes and thistles. We learn from Wright that two broods are produced
within the year, the first eggs being laid about February.