io8 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



the Forth. Of only abnormal occurrence in Ireland 

 {Zoologist, 1 89 1, p. 186). 



Breeding habits : The breeding-grounds of the 

 Lesser Whitethroat are coppices, small plantations, or- 

 chards, gardens, commons, hedgerows, and shrubberies. 

 It is a summer migrant to our islands, arriving during 

 the latter half of April or early in May. It appears to 

 pair annually, shortly after reaching its nesting localities. 

 A peculiarity of its habits is its partiality for the 

 higher branches of the trees and hedges. The nest is 

 placed amongst the dense lower vegetation of its haunts, 

 but occasionally in the topmost branch of a tall hedge 

 or thicket. Frequently it may be found amongst 

 brambles and briars, in gorse bushes, and in branches 

 overhanging a dell or a stream. It is a shallow, slight, 

 net-like structure, made of dry grass-stalks, often bound 

 together with cobwebs or cocoons and roots, and lined 

 with a little horsehair. The hen-bird sits very closely, 

 and when disturbed flits to and fro from branch to 

 branch, often in company with the male, from time 

 to time uttering a harsh and scolding tec or tay-tay. 

 This species is not at all social during the nesting 

 season. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Lesser Whitethroat are four or hve in 

 number. They vary from pure white to very pale buff 

 in ground colour, blotched and freckled with various 

 shades of greenish-brown, and with underlying markings 

 of violet-gray. On some eggs a few dark brown streaks 

 occur. The markings are usually most abundant on 

 the large end of the Q'g%, where they form a zone or a 

 semi-confluent circular patch. On some eggs most of 

 the markings are large and pale, and most of the larger 

 spots are paler round the margin. Average measure- 

 ment, '65 inch in length, by '52 inch in breadth. 



