i86 lloyd*s natural history. 



III. THE LESSER WHITETIIROAT. SYLVIA CURRUCA. 



[Plate XX., Fig. 2.) 



Mofacitta curruca, Linn., S. N., i., p. 329 (1766). 

 Sylvia garru/a, Macg., Br. B., ii., p. 357 (1839). 

 Sylvia curruca, Newt. cd. Yarr., i., p. 410 (1873) ; Dresser, B. 



Eur., ii., p. 3S3, pi. 58 (1S76); Seeb., Cat. B. Brit. Mus., 



v., p. 16 (1SS1); id. Hist. Br. B., i., p. 410 (1883); B. O. 



U. List Br. B., p. 12 (1883) \ Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. 



ii. (1SS6); Saunders, Man., p. 43 (18S9). 



Adult Male — General colour above pale ashy- brown or Mouse- 

 grey ; the head light slaty-grey, contrasting with the back ; 

 lores, sides of face, and ear-coverts dusky ash-colour ; the eye- 

 lid whitish ; over the eye a faintly indicated eyebrow of hoary- 

 grey; wing-coverts like the back, the greater series externally 

 lighter and more sandy-brown ; quills sepia-brown, with a pale 

 fringe to the tips, externally lighter brown, the secondaries more 

 sandy-brown like the greater coverts ; tail-feathers sepia-brown, 

 edged with ashy, the outer feathers dingy ashy-whitish along the 

 outer web and near the end of the inner one ; under surface of 

 body pure white, with a pinkish blush on the fore-neck and 

 breast, deepening into rosy-isabelline on the sides of the body 

 and flanks ; under wing-coverts and axillaries white, with a rosy 

 isabelline tinge on the latter, and on the quill-lining ; bill 

 dusky grey, pale at the base of the lower mandible ; feet and 

 claws leaden-grey; iris light brown. Total length, 5*2 inches; 

 culmen, 0*35; wing, 2*6; tail, 2*15; tarsus, 0-85. 



Adult Female. — Similar in colour to the male, but having the 

 brown of the back a little further extended on to the crown. 

 Total length, 5 inches; wing, 2*55. 



Winter Plumage. — Scarcely differs from the summer plumage, 

 but is a little browner on the breast and flanks, without any 

 pinkish tinge. 



Young. — Resembles the adults, but is still more plainly washed 

 with brown below, and has the white on the outer tail-feather 

 much more marked, the greater portion being white with a 

 black shaft, and leaving an oblique black mark along the greater 

 part of the inner web. 



