146 Transactions of the [Sess. 



it immediately shows its anxiety and resentment by restlessly skulking 

 amidst the undergrowth close at hand, endeavouring at the same time 

 to conceal its movements from the intruder. If the eggs are inter- 

 fered with, the bird is very apt to desert the nest altogether. 



Next in order comes the Garden- Warbler, which partakes of the 

 same shy nature as the last — if anything, being more anxious to 

 secrete itself and keep out of view. When the foliage becomes 

 dense, towards the end of May, it is a pretty severe trial on the eye- 

 sight, not to mention the patience, to discover the bird, even when 

 from its singing we know that it must be in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood, as it shifts about so assiduously among the branches as 

 frequently to baffle all our attempts. At one moment you feel 

 certain that you have brought the sound to a focus (if it is permis- 

 sible to make use of the word in such a sense), and expect every 

 moment to catch sight of the songster, when a few seconds afterwards 

 it appears to emanate from a different quarter altogether, — and so on, 

 untn the listener is sometimes fain from very weariness to give up 

 the task as hopeless. Its note at times is uncommonly like that of 

 the Blackbird, and apt to deceive even one who may consider himself 

 an adept in diagnosing the songs of different species. A certain safe- 

 guard against falling into that error, however, is to listen attentively 

 at the moment the loud note dies away, and the characteristic low chat- 

 tering of the Warbler will in most cases then become audible — a sure 

 index to the singer's identity. It is not easy of decision whether .the 

 Blackcap or the Garden- Warbler is the commoner in Scotland, so 

 much depending apparently upon locality; but, judging from my 

 own imperfect experience, I should be inclined to give the precedence 

 to the latter, the more especially as the Garden- Warbler being of a 

 sombre and less distinctive plumage, its occurrence is more likely to 

 be overlooked than that of the Blackcap, whose sable top-knot would 

 readily attract attention and be the subject of remark. Stobo, 

 Peeblesshire, may be recorded as a locality where it breeds. 



Turning now to the Whitethroat, we arrive at a species of perhaps 

 more frequent occurrence than any, save the WiUow-Wren ; at least 

 appearances go far to prove so, from its habit of resorting to the out- 

 skirts of woods, and also in a great measure to hedges that border the 

 public pathways, thus giving passers-by better opportunities of obser- 

 vation than do the other members of the family. Beds of JSTettles 

 and parts of woods where there is a mass of matted vegetation in the 

 shape of Brambles, Thorns, &c., are also favourite habitats, and it has 

 a fashion of dodging about among these latter that calls to mind a 

 similar trait in the character of the Hedge- Sparrow. The common 

 name is derived from the purity of the white feathers on the throat, 

 which, along with the bluish-grey head and reddish-brown margins 

 of the wing-feathers, are sufficiently marked objects to prevent con- 

 fusion with other species. The breast during life is tinged with a 



