WARBLER, a popular name often applied to all the birds of the family sylviada3 (q.v.), many of which, however, commonly receive other popular names, as the black cap, nightingale, hedge-sparrow, redbreast, redstart, stone-chat, wheat-ear, white-throat, etc. (q.v.), while many receive the name warbler with some adjunct. Several British species, commonly thus designated, belong to the genus salicaria, others to the genus The species of the former genus have the tail rounded; in the latter, it is almost square or a little forked. The salicarice are also inhabitants of moist situations, whence they are known as sedge warblers and reed warblers; the sylvica are inhabitants of woods. , Of the former genus is the GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (salicaria locustella), not unfrequent in many parts of England, and found also in the s. of Scotland and in Ireland. It is foUnd in most parts of the center and s. of Europe, at least during summer, being partially a bird of passage. It is of a greenish-brown color, the centers of the feath ers dark brown, producing a spotted appearance; the lower parts pale brown. It is a shy bird, hiding itself in hedges and bushes, but very active, often darting out like a mouse from the bottom of the hedge, and receives its name from its chirping, grass hopper-like note.—The SEDGE WARBLER (ealicaria plaragmitis) is the most common British species of salicaria. and is generally found in thick patches of reeds or willows in marshes, or in other situations close to water, and where the aquatic herbage is thick and strong. It abounds on the marshy banks of the Thames. It is of a brown color, exhibiting various shades, finely intermixed; the chin and throat white; the under parts buff color.—The REED WARBLER (salicaria arundinacea) is found in summer in marshy situations in the s. of England; it abounds in Holland and in many parts of Europe, and its range extends to the n. of India. It is of a uniform pale brown, with a tinge of
shestnut; the chin and throat white; ,the under parts pale buff color. Its nest is remarkable; it is attached to the sterns of three or four reeds, and formed by winding the branches of their panicles together with a little wool; and is conical and deep, so that the eggs or young may not be shaken out when the reeds are shaken by the wind. —The Woof) WARBLER, also known as Wows WREN (sylvia sylvicola), is common iu the wooded districts of England in summer, particularly in old plantations of oak and beech. It is olive green, tinged with yellow, the wings brown, the primaries and secondaries edged with bright yellow, the tertials with a broader edge of yellowish white; the lower parts yellow and white.—The WILLOW WARBLER (villa trochilus), is very common in the s. of England in summer, but more rare in northern parts of Britain. It frequents woods, shrubberies, thick hedgerow's, and hushes; but builds its nest on the ground. It is of a dull olive-green color, the wing and tail feathers dark brown, the wing-feathers edged with green; the under parts whitish, slightly tinged with yellow. The tail is slightly notched. There are other British species of more rare occurrence.—Numerous species of warblers are found in North America, migratory birds, which spend the winter iu more southern regions. Not a few of the same species are therefore reckoned among the birds of the West Indies. Some of the European species are in like manner found in Africa; and Asia has many species of warblers, among which some of the European species are included. Australia has many species of warblers, some of which are of very beautiful plumage.