THE COMMON WHITETIIROAT 43 



period it is exceptionally secretive and silent. It 

 leaves us with its young for the south during 

 September, although a few individuals may be met 

 with as late as October. 



The adult male Common Whitethroat has the 

 general colour of the upper parts greyish-brown, 

 shading into ash-grey on the head, and darkest on 

 the wings and tail. The wing-coverts and inner- 

 most secondaries are broadly margined with pale 

 chestnut-brown, and the outermost tail feathers 

 are broadly edged with white. The under parts 

 are white, shot with vinous on the breast, and 

 shading into buff on the flanks. The under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries are pale grey. The bird is 

 about five and a half inches in total length. The 

 female wants the grey on the head and the vinous 

 on the breast. 



