36 THE WARBLERS 



account. One of these " cock's nests " I found as early as April 30th, 

 almost complete ; with bits of cocoon silk and wool dotted about the 

 structure, but no horsehair lining. Ten days later a female accom- 

 panied the male to this nest ; he seemed to be recommending it to her 

 as a desirable residence, fluttering round with crest raised and cheek 

 feathers puffed out. From time to time during the next week both 

 birds added to it; but evidently something did not suit, and they 

 shortly commenced another one some sixty feet away, in a low tangle 

 of bramble and reed. The nest is begun at the top and varies con- 

 siderably in beauty of construction ; sometimes consisting only of dry 

 grass with a horse-hair lining, but often beautifully decorated with 

 bits of cocoon silk, or willow-flower. It may be completed in a few 

 days or two weeks, according to circumstances ; windy weather, for 

 instance, always delays the whitethroats building. 



The nest is usually placed in rough undergrowth, of bramble and 

 briar, or amongst nettles; hence the bird's local name of "nettle- 

 creeper." I once found a nest on the open marsh amongst sedge and 

 rushes. Probably the builders had been driven from a small planta- 

 tion near, where accommodation was limited and whitethroats were 

 numerous ; or else the hen rather loved a more open situation : in any 

 case, she liked sunning herself on the nest, and often used to spread 

 out her wings, open her mouth wide, and drink in floods of sunshine ; 

 a habit not uncommon amongst many birds, and one that must be 

 very hygienic and may account for their good voices ! This sun-bath 

 proper must not be confused with panting due to exhaustion, as no 

 distressing signs are ever visible, but rather every manifestation of 

 keen enjoyment. 



The lesser-whitethroat's nest is generally placed somewhat 

 higher than that of the whitethroat. It is found amongst bushes 

 and rough undergrowth, and also in tall thorn hedges, where the 

 difficulty of discovering it is largely increased; for such a frail 

 structure may easily escape detection. This nest is perhaps the 

 smallest, and certainly the most fragile, made by any British bird. 



