412 BRITISH BIRDS. 
having the forehead and crown of a pale bluish grey colour, gradually 
shading into the colour of the back, which is a pale isabelline brown. The 
length of wing varies from 2°45 to 2:3 inch. In its wing-formula it agrees 
with the Siberian form. It breeds in the Ferghana and Afghanistan, passes 
through the Pamir on migration, and winters in Baluchistan, Scinde, and 
North-west India. 
The Lesser Whitethroat is a regular summer migrant to this country, 
and arrives during the last half of April, sometimes not until the beginning 
of May. Like its near congener the Common Whitethroat, it is a restless 
shy little bird, and only frequents those localities which afford it plenty of 
seclusion and concealment. Its haunts are the tangled hedgerows, in 
lanes, especially if there be plenty of tall shrubs and trees; it is also an 
inhabitant of the thick shrubberies, where the evergreens are interspersed 
with deciduous trees; and gardens, small plantations, and copses are also 
tenanted. 
Unlike the Common Whitethroat, this species is very frequently seen 
at a considerable distance from the ground, in the higher branches, a 
difference of habit which may also be remarked between the Chiffchaff and 
the Willow-Wren. 
From this peculiarity in its habits, and from the luxuriance of the foliage 
which it frequents, the Lesser Whitethroat very often escapes observation ; 
but when noticed it will be seen to display the same restless disposition as 
the other Warblers, gliding quickly from branch to branch, now hiding 
under the broad leaves, then hovering in the air to catch a fly, or more 
often to warble its song. Although it does not often prolong its flight far 
into the open, still when so seen it may be observed that its course is an 
undulating one. Its song is a monotonous trill, sometimes like the first 
half of the song of the Yellowhammer ; but it is frequently preceded by a 
few notes which, though they are not very varied nor very loud, are by 
no means unmusical, something like the twittering of a Swallow. Its 
call-note resembles the syllable check several times repeated and some- 
times varied with a more guttural cry. 
The food of the Lesser Whitethroat is largely composed of insects, which 
it seeks under the leaves and amongst the twigs, and occasionally attempts 
to secure on the wing, snapping at them from its perch or pursuing them 
in the air. It is also fond of small caterpillars and aphides, and, like all 
its congeners, feeds largely on fruit, especially on cherries and red 
currants. 
The Lesser Whitethroat is a somewhat late breeder, and the vegetation 
is usually dense and luxuriant ere its nest is commenced. It is often 
placed amongst brambles, in furze bushes, in thickets, the topmost branches 
of a tall hedgerow, or in the bushes which grow over the stream in some 
shaded dell, It is much shallower than the nest of the Common White- 
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