PERCHING BIRDS. 79 



and tail being shaken, the crest prominently raised, and 

 his whole appearance being one of excitement. Most 

 generally he sang while perched on a spray near the 

 top of the tree, but sometimes he would spring up in a 

 singular way as if unsuccessfully trying to balance him- 

 self, and then he would hover a few feet above the tree, 

 slowly descending to his perch, and all the time singing 

 with the utmost rapidity. While thus engaged he ex- 

 hibited very little fear, but would allow me to approach 

 closely before he moved; but he evidently did so un- 

 willingly, not liking to forsake his charge, as the nest 

 was placed in a clump of herbaceous plants at the foot 

 of the tree. The presence of a cat in the garden was 

 always met with loud cries of alarm, and I have seen 

 one that belonged to me, who was a noted birdcatcher, 

 greatly annoyed at these unwelcome attentions, and 

 even shrinking with evident fear from the vigorous 

 attacks which parental love led the little fellow to make 

 on pussy, and in which he seemed quite regardless of 

 his own safety. 



The Lesser Whitethroat (S. curruca) is almost as 

 common as the preceding species, and is very frequent 

 in the gardens and in the hedges of the neighbouring 

 meadows. My own garden was seldom without a pair 

 during the summer, the cleajrjvhite of jhe__throat and 

 breast making them very prominent. It does not show 

 itself^ so openly as the whitethroat, and utters its song 

 while flitting about in^the concealment of the bush or 

 tree. In one corner of my garden grew a clump of nut 

 and plum trees, overshadowing an arbour, the sides of 

 which were clothed with honeysuckle which climbed 

 upwards, clasping the boughs of the trees above. The 

 clump was the constant resort of this little bird, and 



