WHITE-THROATED WARBLER. 353 



reddish tint generally seen on that of the male ; and the white 

 on the lateral tail-feathers is more obscure, being tinged with 

 brown. The oesophagus is two inches and a quarter long, 

 with an average diameter of two twelfths and a quarter. The 

 stomach is eight and a half twelfths long ; the intestine seven 

 and a fourth twelfths long, its diameter varying from two and 

 a half to one and a half twelfths ; the coeca oblong, two twelfths 

 in length. 



Length to end of tail 5 } § inches ; extent of wings 85 ; bill 

 along the ridge ^^g '•> wing 21**^ ; tail 2j\ ; tarsus ^g ; middle 

 toe and claw ^^1. 



Changes. — Individuals shot in May vary little in their colours, 

 and are generally in full plumage, with the tips and edges of 

 the feathers entire. It is therefore certain that this species 

 moults in its southern residence. Individuals, however, occur 

 in which some of the old feathers remain. I have before me, 

 on the 25th ISIay 1837, two specimens recently shot. In 

 the female the plumage is all new and perfect ; the tail consi- 

 derably rounded, the two middle feathers being longest, the 

 lateral three eighths of an inch shorter ; while the male, although 

 otherwise fresh, has one of the middle tail-feathers quite ragged, 

 half of the outer web being worn off, and the other middle 

 feather growing, and shorter than the lateral, both which are 

 also unrenewed. The wings and the rest of the plumage are 

 perfect. As the season advances, the colours fade, and the 

 feathers are more or less worn ; the upper parts assume a 

 greyer tint, and the lower a more dusky hue, the reddish 

 colour on the fore-neck becoming more conspicuous ; the red 

 edgings on the quills are sometimes almost obliterated, and the 

 head is much darker. In specimens shot in July, the tail- 

 feathers are often in a singularly ragged condition, especially 

 the two middle and the lateral. 



Habits. — The White-throated Warbler arrives from the 

 20th of April to the 10th of May, and immediately betakes 

 itself to thickets or hawthorn hedges, where its presence may 

 be detected by the short pleasantly modulated warble of a few 



VOL. II, A A 



