158 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



pale, almost fleshy brown, and the irides light hazel. The 

 female is brown on the head and tail-coverts as well as on the 

 back, and there is no vinous tinge on her under parts, which 

 are whiter than those of the male. After the autumn moult 

 the male resembles the female. The young are dark brown — 

 almost bistre — on the back, and russet on the wing-coverts and 

 secondaries, the throat is a duller white, and there is often a 

 pale brown collar on the breast. Length, 5*5 ins. Wing, 

 2*8 ins. Tarsus, '5 in. 



Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia ciirmca (Linn.). 



The Continental range of the Lesser Whitethroat (Plate 63) 

 roughly corresponds with that of the Common Whitethroat, but 

 it winters further north in Africa. In England and Wales it is 

 a common summer resident in most of the midland and 

 southern counties, but is rare in the Lake District, Northumber- 

 land and Durham and the extreme west of Wales and south- 

 western England. In Scotland, where it has been reputed to 

 nest, it is only known as a passage migrant in spring and 

 autumn ; it has occasionally visited Ireland. 



Though the song is the best distinction between the two 

 Whitethroats, the Lesser is a greyer brown ; it looks a grey 

 and white bird, and its brown tinged grey ear-coverts are much 

 darker than its crown. It arrives late in April, often not until 

 May, and frequents thick hedgerows, bramble thickets and 

 trees ; it is far more arboreal than its relative, and though by 

 no means shy the foliage lends concealment. That portion of 

 the song usually heard and described is a loiid and rapid 

 metaUic rattle, sometimes resembling the song of the Chaffinch, 

 but more closely that of the Cirl Bunting. A preliminary 

 short prelude, a Swallow-like twitter, is often audible, but the 

 true song, a subdued, melodious warble, an improved echo ot 

 the emphatic Common Whitethroat, can only be heard at close 



