74 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



summer, his exuberance demands further expres- 

 sion. With a mad gambol, he tosses himself into 

 the air still singing, and then drops back to the 

 hedge, where the eye, still directed by protesting 

 chirps and gurgling sounds, may follow him a little 

 way, until at length he is lost in the endless laby- 

 rinth of leaf. Here, following the rule that when 

 a bird's song is at its cheeriest incubation is in 

 progress, the nest may be looked for. It is not easy 

 to find, but as one proceeds to press back tiie rank 

 vegetation, his little brown mate slips silently away 

 almost from beneath the hand. I4ere is the nest 

 somewhat loosely woven amidst the lower stems, 

 and in its deep recess the stone-coloured eggs with 

 their dusky freckling may be dimly seen. 



It mav be noted here that although the AMiite- 

 throat constantlv uses the branches of the umbel- 

 liferous plants for a resting place, in my experience 

 it shares with all other birds in a dislike for them as 

 supports for the nest. 



The Lesser Whitethroat may be distinguished 

 from the preceding species not only by its smaller 

 size, but by the distinct dark patch which extends 

 about the eve. In place of the rufous hue, the head, 

 neck and back are of a greyish-brown. The nest, 

 too, is shallower, and is usually placed at a some- 

 what higher elevation. The eggs, four to five in 

 number, are whiter than those of the Greater White- 

 throat, and are boldly spotted with deep olive-brown. 

 This bird is also a true summer visitor, and in 

 general habits resembles its larger congener, the 

 chief distinction being that it frequents the tops of 



