PETTYCHAPS ! LESSER WHITETHROAT. 131 



PETTYCHAPS.* 



THIS species of warbler is far from infrequent 

 about us, haunting gardens, black-thorn copses, and 

 high hedges, though more plentiful some years than 

 others. Its note is soft, possessing much variety, 

 and particularly pleasing, somewhat resembling that 

 of the black-cap, but not so loud and powerful : it is 

 often continued for a very considerable time without 

 intermission. The songster itself is not often seen, from 

 its extreme shyness, and its habit of concealing itself 

 in the thickest covert. In the early part of the season, 

 I have occasionally observed it in sycamores, picking 

 at the flower-buds of that tree, to which it seems par- 

 tial. I never heard it before the 1st of May, nor 

 after the 20th of July. 



LESSER WHITETHROAT.f 



THE lesser white-throat is common in this 

 neighbourhood. During the second week in May in 

 1822, 1 observed a pair of these birds busily employ- 

 ed in building their nest in a low yew-bush close to 

 the house. The nest was completed about the 12th : 

 the first egg was laid on the 15th, and by the 19th 

 there were five deposited, when the bird ceased lay- 

 ing, and commenced sitting. I had many opportuni- 

 ties of observing both sexes : the hen engaged on the 

 nest ; the cock generally close by, and constantly re- 



*. Curruca hortensis, Bechst. t Curruca sylvielki, Flem. 



