BIDRS OF GUERNSEY. 51 



throat has hitherto perhaps been better known by 

 the name used in the former edition of ' Yarrell ' 

 and by Messrs. Degland and Gerbe, Curruca 

 cinerea, but in consequence of the inexorable rule 

 of the British Association the name " rufa," given 

 by Boddaert in 1783, has now been accepted for 

 this bird. I have not generally thought it neces- 

 sary to point out these changes, but in this instance 

 it seemed necessary to do so, as in the former 

 edition of ' Yarrell ' the Chiffchaff was called by 

 the name Sylvia rufa, and this might possibly have 

 caused some confusion unless the change had been 

 pointed out. 



The Whitethroat is by no means so common in 

 the Channel Islands as it is in England, and though 

 a regular summer visitant it only makes its appear- 

 ance in small numbers. A few, however, may be 

 seen about the fields and hedgerows in the more 

 cultivated parts of the country. It certainly has 

 not got the reputation for mischief in the garden it 

 has in England, as none of the gardeners I asked 

 about it, and who were complaining grievously of 

 the mischief done by birds, ever mentioned the 

 Whitethroat, or knew the bird when asked about it. 



Professor Ansted includes the bird in his list, 

 and restricts it to Guernsey, but I see no reason 

 why it should not occur equally in Sark and Herm. 

 There is no specimen at present in the Museum, 



