THE WHITETHROAT. 163 



Wheetie-why, CIuut, JMuft, Beardie, Whattie, 

 Charlie Muftie, Peggj Wliitethroat, Whautie, 

 and Muggy Cut-throat. One of its most common 

 provincial names, Xettle-creeper, arises from its 

 liabit of frequenting hedge-banks, the sides of 

 woods, or grassy lanes, where the brambles 

 trail over the gi'ound, and the bracken and the 

 nettles gather in abundance. It is among large 

 coarse herbage of this kind that its nest is hidden ; 

 and a low bush, or a tangled thicket of grass and 

 nettles, is a favourite spot ; the nest rarely being 

 placed more than a foot or two above the ground. 

 The outer part is formed almost entirely of dried 

 grass stems, and it is lined with flowering grass 

 stems of a finer description. The eggs are four 

 or five in number, and are white, spotted and 

 speckled with ash brown. 



The whitethroat clears our rose bushes, honey- 

 suckles, and other plants, of many of the aphides 

 which gather on them ; and is of much use too in 

 destroying caterpillars, of which it is particularly 

 fond. It is partial also to flies, though less clevei 

 in catching them than are some birds. But it 

 does not confine itself to insect diet, and it must 

 be acknowledged that a little party of these 



