THE LESSER WHITETHROAT. 73 



Whitethroat have a much clearer ground-colour, 

 and are never so profusely freckled as those of 

 its congener. On the contrary, the spots of 

 ash-brown, or ash-green, are almost always at 

 the larger end, leaving the smaller end of the 

 egg almost spotless. 



The range of the Lesser Whitethroat south- 

 ward is probably more or less identical with 

 that of the Common Whitethroat. It is abun- 

 dant in Spain in winter and early spring, but 

 does not remain to breed there. In Malta, 

 strange to say, it has only been recognised once; 

 but in Egypt and Nubia, especially from Den- 

 dera to the First Cataract, it is very numerous 

 in winter. Individuals of this species have been 

 seen to alight on vessels in the Mediterranean, 

 even when upwards of sixty miles from the 

 nearest land, and thus its ability to migrate 

 from Europe to Africa, and back, is sufficiently 

 established. Eastward it penetrates to Lower 

 Bengal, where, in the cold season, it is said to 

 be not uncommon. 



