THE COMMON WHITETHROAT. 69 



once as Sylvia cinerea. Unlike the Garden 

 Warbler, the Whitethroat sings a good deal on 

 the wing, sometimes returning to the branch it 

 has just left, after the manner of a Tree Pipit, 

 sometimes re-alighting elsewhere. The song, 

 which is commenced on arrival, generally ceases 

 early in the month of July. Its habits, and as 

 Mr. Thompson says, the grotesquely earnest 

 appearance which the erected crest, feathers, 

 and distended throat impart when singing, 

 render this bird one of the most interesting of 

 our warblers. It seems to prefer the tallest and 

 thickest hedgerows, where there are plenty of 

 brambles and briars, and ditches which are 

 choked with weeds and nettles. It does not 

 keep, however, to the fields and lanes, but 

 visits our gardens and orchards in company 

 with its young to pilfer currants, raspberries, 

 and other fruit when ripe. The caterpillars to 

 be found on the currant trees are favourite 

 morsels with this bird, and we should not forget 

 that if it takes a few currants it is also the 

 means of saving a good many. 



