Ill THE SMALLER BRITISH hlRhS. 



Tlio bin IS rlnrlc hrown, tlu cjgos and base of tlio lower nianUiLile 

 yellow; the legs, toes, and claws, greyish brown. The upper parts of 

 the body are of a uniform light greyish brown, with a slight tinge 

 of orange. 'Ihe wing coverts and quills are dusky brown slightly 

 margined with olive, the under wing coverts of a delicate buff colour. 

 The chin and throat, and breast, are brownish white, the upper part 

 of the latter tinged with reddish brown, and fading into greyish wniie 

 on the under surface of the body. The young, when fledged, resemble 

 their parents, but have a somewhat yellower tint. Two broods are 

 generally reared in a season. 



Although this bird does not appear to be esteemed in the British 

 Isles as a.n article of food, it is captured in large numbers on the 

 Continent for the tables of the dainty; this may be owing to the fact 

 that in the sunny climes of Italy, Spain, and the South of France, it 

 feeds larofcly on the figs, grapes, and other rich fruit that there come 

 to perfection, and its tlesh is probably more delicate and delicious va. 

 conscquuiice. 



T 11 E \V 11 1 T E '1^ [1 R A T, 



(Svltiia n/icmi.) 

 PI.A'l'E VI] . KiaUitK V 



Of the \\^;irblers thnt visit this conntvy, tlie Whito'hroat is the most 

 abundant and extensively distributed; it has been seen in almost 

 everv county, but is commonest along fclie southern coast, from Kent 

 and Sussex to Cornwall. In Yorkshire it is plentiful, but in Durham 

 and Northumberland is less numerous. In Scotland it has been ob- 

 served in Argyleshire and Suthcrlandshire, and a specimen was shot 

 in tJie Orkneys, at Sandy, in May, 1850. It is a regular summer 

 visitor to all parts of Ireland. As might be expected from its 

 plentiful distribution, this species has a variety of popular names, 

 many of them more expi'essive tha.n elegant; here are some of them, 

 Wheatie-why, Chnrr, Muft; MuR'et, Why-beard, Peggy Whitethroat, 

 Muggy, Eeardy, Blethering-Tam, Whallie, Whiskey, Nettle Creepeiv 

 it is also called the White-throated W.arbler, and the Greater White- 

 throat. There are few parts of Europe that this bird does not visil; 

 ifc is common during the summer in Holland, France, Spain, fta'y. 

 Sardinia, and Germany, and has also been observed in Kussia, Siberia, 



