1 36 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



III. THE LESSER WHITETHROAT. SYLVIA CURRUCA. 



(Plate XX., Fig. 2.) 



Motacilla curruca, Linn., S. N., i., p. 329 (1766). 

 Sylvia garrula, Macg., Br. B., ii., p. 357 (1839). 

 Sylvia curruca, Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p. 410 (1873) ; Dresser, B. 



Eur., ii., p. 383, pi. 58 (1876); Seeb., Cat B. Brit. Mus., 



'v., p. 16 (1881); id. Hist. Br. B., i., p. 410 (1883); B. O. 



U. List Br. B., p. 12 (1883); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. 



ii. (1886); Saunders, Man., p. 43 (1889). 



Adult Male. General colour above pale ashy- brown or Mouse- 

 grey ; the head light slaty-grey, contrasting with the back ; 

 lores, sides of face, and ear-coverts dusky ash-colour ; the eye- 

 lid whitish ; over the eye a faintly indicated eyebrow of hoary- 

 grey; wing-coverts like the back, the greater series externally 

 lighter and more sandy-brown ; quills sepia-brown, with a pale 

 fringe to the tips, externally lighter brown, the secondaries more 

 sandy-brown like the greater coverts ; tail-feathers sepia-brown, 

 edged with ashy, the outer feathers dingy ashy-whitish along the 

 outer web and near the end of the inner one ; under surface ol 

 body pure white, with a pinkish blush on the fore-neck and 

 breast, deepening into rosy-isabelline on the sides of the body 

 and flanks ; under wing-coverts and axillaries white, with a rosy 

 isabelline tinge on the latter, and on the quill-lining ; bil 

 dusky grey, pale at the base of the lower mandible ; feet anc 

 claws leaden-grey; iris light brown. Total length, 5-2 inches 

 culmen, 0-35; wing, 2'6; tail, 2*15; tarsus, 0-85. 



Adult Female. Similar in colour to the male, but having the 

 brown of the back a little further extended on to the crown 

 Total length, 5 inches; wing, 2-55. 



Winter Plumage- Scarcely differs from the summer plumage 

 but is a little browner on the breast and flanks, without any 

 pinkish tinge. 



Young. Resembles the adults, but is still more plainly washec 

 with brown below, and has the white on the outer tail-feather 

 much more marked, the greater portion being white with a 

 black shaft, and leaving an oblique black mark along the greater 

 part of the inner web. 



