WARnLERS. 115 



Norway, SwecIoT), and Donniark. Specimona have been received by 

 the Zoological Society from Trcbi/.ond, aiul it has been noticed in 

 Smyrna. 



The males arrive in this country about the tliird week in April, 

 and resort to the borders of woods, thic-kcts, plantations, and gardens, 

 but mov,> particularly to bushes and hedijerows, where tliey await the 

 arrival of the females, whicli takes place ten or twelve days later. 

 They depart for warmer climates about the end of Se]itember; a 

 specimen was shot, however, in 18l;3, at Raheny, near Dublin, as late 

 as December. The soug of the Whitothroat is loud, lively, and for 

 the most part sweet, but it contains a few somewhat harsh notes; 

 it is performed in a sprigiilly and earnest manner, usually from the 

 top of a hedge; the bird accompanies it with many curious jerks of 

 the wings and tail, at the same (inio erecting his crest and widely 

 distending his pretty white throat. He warbles from sunrise to sunset, 

 not ceasing even during heavy rain and thunder-storms. Macgillivray 

 says, — "If you be walking along a hedge m the early twilight, the 

 hltlc creature is sure to come up, announcing its presence by a song, 

 and flitting in advance for perlia]is a long way. One morning in 

 July, 1835, when approaching Ediuburirh after walking all night from 

 Glasgow, I encountered several Whitethroats in this manner, some of 

 which accompanied or preceded me several hundred yards, although I 

 could not see one of thcni." It has been noticed that at the pairing 

 time these birds will mount into the air to a considerable height, in 

 a curious kind of circuitous flight, pouring forth their notes at the 

 same time in an excited and vehement manner. 



Of extremely aclivu and restless manners, the antics and gestures 

 of these elegant little birds are most amusing to watch, as they sport 

 merrily in the hedges, and dart from tree to tree with many a jerk 

 of the tail and twist of the body, now and then pausing for a monieut 

 and glancing around, with a knowing and roguish twinkle of the eye. 

 "The peasant boys in East Lothian," says Mr. Hepburn, "think that 

 these birds are mocking or laughing at them as they tumble over 

 the hedges and bushes in the lane, and they therefoi'e persecute them 

 at all times, even more virulently than they do Sparrows. They fre- 

 rpicntly enter our gardens in search of food. They delight to mob 

 cats, never ceasing their alarm-note till their foe retires." 



The food of the Wliitethroat consists chiefly of insects and larvas, 

 for wln'eh it searches the trees and shrubs, or darts into the air. It 

 also eats cherries, currants, raspberries, and other fruit. Its nest is 

 built among long grass or nettles, and sotnelimcs in low bushes; it i^* 

 generally carefully hidden, but has been occasionally found in exposed 



