NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 283 



surpassed by that of tlie nightingale. It is, however, of compara- 

 tively short duration, as the bird becomes silent when the first 

 brood is hatched, and is only heard for a little while should a 

 second nest be built. 



The Common Whitethroat {Cunuca cinerea). 



Very commonly distributed, arriving early in May, and en- 

 livening almost every hedge-row in the two counties. It some- 

 times rears two broods, the nest being placed in tufts of coarse 

 grass, bramble or briar thickets, or among rank plants near the 

 base of a hedge. These birds arrive in full plumage, and are for 

 a time very diverting from their liveliness and loquacity. As the 

 season advances, however, the feathers become faded and worn, 

 and the birds quit our coasts in a costume so ragged as to cause 

 one to wonder how the little fellows, imperfectly clad as they are, 

 can undertake the fatiguing journey they have in prospect. We 

 have seen this warbler continually haunting the grassy patches 

 occurring on the coast line between Grirvan and Lendalfoot, where 

 one would little expect to find a bird of sylvan habits. 



The Lesser Whitethroat (Ourruca sylviella). 



Sparingly met with, and much less obtrusive in its habits than 

 the preceding species. This warbler was well known as an Ayr- 

 shire bird thirty years ago. We are not, however, certain of its 

 being a native of Wigtownshire. 



The Wood Warbler (Sylvia sylvkola). 



A well-known, though not abundant, summer visitant to both 

 counties. Being much quieter in its habits than the next species, 

 it is not so often observed, although of brighter tints. It is also 

 later in making its appearance, and in consequence not so easily 

 perceived among the dense foliage of the trees which it frequents. 



The Willow Warbler (Sylvia trochilus). 

 This welcome little summer bird is very common, arriving some 

 seasons about the middle of April. It visits the glens in both 

 counties extending to some height above the sea level, and remains 

 there during the season, building its nest in lieathery tufts, and 

 lining it with game bird feathers. We have heard this species 

 singing blythely in the middle of July. 



