Peggy W^hitethroai 



WHEN April comes, comes Peggy Whitethroat, to 

 chatter and scold from the hedge-tops a graceful 

 little warbler, reddish brown in hue above, with a grey 

 head and a very white throat, by which it is known at 

 once. Another old country name for this bird is 

 Nettle-creeper, from its fondness of creeping about in 

 nettle -beds after caterpillars, and there building its 

 nest. 



The harsh, scolding note is uttered as the bird flits 

 restlessly about ; then presently is heard the peculiar 

 whitethroat song from a twig at the top of the hedge, a 

 rush of hurried, excited notes. Now and then the 

 singer shoots up into the air, singing as he mounts a 

 little way in circles. 



When you go near the nest, the cock bird flits fear- 

 lessly about you, raising his crest, and harshly scolding. 

 The nest is slight, rather deep, of fine grass, lined with 

 horsehair, and placed low in bushes or brambles. The 

 eggs are greenish white, brown and grey blotched. 



This restless little bird has an equally restless cousin, 

 the lesser whitethroat. There is really little difference 

 between them in size and appearance, the lesser being 

 only about half an inch shorter he measures some five 

 inches. But he is much less common, and much less 

 of a singer. 



73 



