113 TIIE SMALLER BRITTSH lilRDS. 



among tlie liawtliorn twigs. He once sprung into the air, caught an 

 insect, and then began to sing in a very low voice, ending in a very ■ 

 shrill tremulous cry. The little fellow ceased his song when he observed 

 me, and sought the middle of the hedge, where he remained till I left 

 my place." blaster Whitethroat is of a very irritable and pugnacious 

 disposition, he has been seen to attack and drive away much larger 

 birds than himself. In Germany he is called the Little Miller, from 

 the resemblance some of his notes bear to the noise of a mill — "Klap, 

 klap, klap!" His whole song is not very sweet or varied, it is rather 

 low, except the last shake, which is loud and shrill. 



The nest of this bird is very slightly constructed of dry stalks of 

 grass with occasionally a little wool or hair intermingled, the lining 

 consists of small fibrous roots and hair. It is generally placed in the 

 lower part of a hedge, but rarely in a nettle bed, like that of its larger 

 namesake. The eggs are laid on or about the 20th. of May, and arc 

 hatched in twelve or fourteen days; they number four or five, and are 

 oi' a greenish white colour, spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with ash 

 grey and light brown. Two and sometimes three broods are reared in 

 a season. Bechstein remarks,- — -"the affection of the Babillard for its 

 young, like that of all its genus, is so great, that as soon as anyone 

 comes near the nest, the sitting bird drops out as if senseless, and 

 flutters helplessly upon the ground, uttering an anxious twitter." 



As we have stated, this bird closely resembles the common AV'liite- 

 throat in plumage; the principal ditlerenco is in the wings, which have 

 less of the red tint about tlicui. The total length of the male is from 

 five to live :nid a quarter inches, the i'eniile is a trifle smaller. 



IN CONFINEMENT. 



Ft r- sometimes difficult to obtain a good Nightingale, by which we 

 mean of course a bird that will sing well in confinement; any one de- 

 siring to make such a purchase is very likely to be imposed on by the 

 dealers unless thoroughly well acquainted with the appearance and 

 manners of this charming songster. If all our readers were of the 

 same opinion with ourselves any information respecting the caging of 

 Nightingales, and a great many other birds, would be valueless, but 

 as there arc probably some who simci-cly believe that such creatni-os 

 may be happy in confinement, if well cared for and attended tn, \vc 

 v/ill give the best information on the subject that can be obtained from 



