Birds of Britain 



weeks quietly, feeding on the abundance of insects provided 

 at this time of year, and then when the moult is over and 

 they are strengthened for their journey, they leave us for 

 their sunny winter home in Africa, while we remain 

 behind to cherish, amidst gales and rain, the memories of 

 those glad spring nights. 



The plumage above is warm brown, passing to reddish 

 brown on the tail and tail coverts ; under parts greyish white, 

 huffish on the flanks and breast. The young have light 

 centres to the feathers of the upper parts and are indis- 

 tinctly barred on the breast. Length 6 '5 in. ; wing 3 '3 5 in. 



In our islands this species has a very restricted range, 

 being only known to the south-east of a line from the 

 Humber to the Severn. In Shropshire and South Wales it 

 is sometimes heard, and the same may be said of Devonshire, 

 where, however, of late years a pair or two have nested 

 annually. 



(This species sometimes exceeds in size the Greater 

 Nightingale or " Sprosser," which has been recorded from 

 this country, but our bird may always be recognised by the 

 larger bastard primary, which in the " Sprosser " is minute.) 



THE WHITETHROAT 



Sylvia cinerea, Bechstein 



Quiet and unobtrusive in his colouring, and like all his 

 class retiring in his habits, this extremely common summer 

 visitor is often hardly noticed. Early in April the White- 



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