WHITE THRO A T 1037 



result to be especially regretted since its affinities are undetermined. 

 Originally described as a Fringilla, it was next placed in the genus 

 Parus, and for a long while was supposed to belong to Orthonyx 

 (page 658), a pm-ely Australian form, but is now referred, with its 

 supposed representative in the South Island 

 (Yellowhead), to a distinct genus Clitonyx, 

 which the late ]\Ir. W. A. Forbes {Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1882, pp. 544-546) ascertained to be 

 " perfectly Oscinine." The Whitehead, C. alhi- 

 capilla, from being one of the commonest is 



[■ , 1 i ■ • -J. J. Clitonyx. (From Buller.) 



now one 01 the rarest species in its country, ^ ' 



and its diminution ending in its inevitable destruction seems due, 

 as Sir W, Buller {B. N. Zeal. ed. 2, i. p. 55) suggests, to the intro- 

 duction of exotic birds, which, being morphologically higher and 

 constitutionally stronger, establish themselves at the expense of 

 the lower, weaker and earlier, but far more instructive native forms. 



WHITETHROAT, a name commonly given to two species of 

 little birds, one of which, the Motacilla sylvia of Linna?us and Sylvia 

 rufa 1 or S. cinerea of some recent authors, is regarded as the type, 

 not only of the genus Sylvia, but of the so-called family Sylviidse 

 (Warbler). 



Very widely spread over Great Britain, in some places common, 

 and by its gesticulations and song rather conspicuous, it is one of 

 those birds which has gained a familiar nickname, and " Peggy 

 Whitethroat " is the anthropomorphic appellation of schoolboys and 

 milkmaids, though it shares "Nettle -creeper" and other homely 

 names with perhaps more than one congener, while in books it is 

 by way of distinction the Greater Whitethroat. Its song, except 

 by association with the season at Avhich it is uttered, can scarcely 

 be called agreealile, some of its notes being very harsh ; but the 

 performer may be seen to be ahvays in earnest, erecting the feathers 

 of his crown, puffing out those of his throat, shaking his wings 

 and making other rapid movements expressive of his feelings. 

 Occasionally he will deliver his song as he flies up in a peculiar 

 fashion, describing small circles in the air, stopping with a jerk, 

 and then returning to the spot whence he arose. 



The Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca,^ is both in habits and 

 plumage a much less sightly bird : the predominant reddish-broAvn 

 of the upper surface, and especially the rufous edging of the wing- 

 feathers, so distinctive of its larger congener, ai-e wanting, and 



^ This specific term has been often but inaccurately and absurdly used for a 

 very different bird, the Chifichaff (c/. [Willow] Wren). Its only proper applica- 

 tion is to the Whitethroat. 



^ This is not the mirrvxa of ancient writers, that being almost certainly the 

 Hedge-SPARROW (page 895), in England the ordinary dupe of the Cuckow. 



