BIRDS OF THE WOODS 33 



Habits. — Like many other small birds, it is uneasy 

 and fidgety, fond of flitting from spray to spray down 

 some ragged hedgerow, pausing to deliver its little 

 torrent of song with distended throat, erected forehead 

 feathers, and odd gestures of its tail. Occasionally 

 it springs up into the air singing. When alarmed it 

 skulks, uttering its scolding notes. 



Nest. — Mid-May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — In middle or base of low, thick bush, among 

 nettles, brambles, &c. 



Materials. — Dry grass and stalks, lined with finer 

 grass, bents and horsehair. Cup deep and fiimsily 

 constructed. 



Eggs. — Greenish white, mottled and blotched with 

 olive and slaty grey ; variable. 



LESSER WHITETHROAT {Sylvia curruca). 



May to September. More local than last ; scarce 

 in West and North, unknown in Ireland. 



Haunts. — Thickets, copses, shrubberies, &c., much 

 as last. 



Observation. — Slightly smaller than last, and, unlike 

 it, has darker lores. 



Plumage. — Crown of head, neck, and back greyish 

 brown. Lores almost black. Wings ash-brown, with 

 pale tips and margins. Breast and flanks white, tinged 

 with yellowish brown ; under parts white. Bill black. 

 Legs slate-grey. Length 5iin. Female, smaller and 

 duller. Young browner. 



Language. — Song, a short, vigorous strain, consisting 

 of the rapid repetition of one whistling kind of note ; 



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