88 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Olceser Hfflbftethroat 



THE Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca, Linnaeus), which 

 is a spring migrant to the British Isles, nests throughout 

 most parts of Europe, and winters in Africa. The adult 

 male in summer plumage has the upper parts light slate- 

 grey, suffused more or less with brown on the back, lores, 

 and ear-coverts ; eye-stripe, barely discernible ; primaries, 

 brown ; innermost secondaries, margined broadly with 

 lighter brown ; tail, brown ; outer tail-feathers on each side, 

 white; breast and flanks, very pale brown; remainder of 

 under parts, white; irides, hazel; bill, blackish, lighter at base 

 beneath ; legs, feet, and claws, bluish-grey. Length, about 

 five inches. The female closely resembles the male, but 

 the eye-stripe is absent. The young are similar to the adult 

 female. 



