BRITISH BIRDS. 139 



the throat and fore part of the neek are yellowish 

 white, terminated by a few darkish spots on the 

 upper part of the breast ; the sides of the neck, and 

 all the under parts are pale dingy yellow; legs 

 nearly the same. 



This bird is seldom seen, and is best known by 

 the lengthened grinding, sibilous noise which it 

 makes about the dusk of a still summer's evening. 

 It artfully skulks among old furze bushes, or in the 

 thickest brakes and hedges, from which it will not 

 easily be forced away. We were favoured with the 

 drawing from which our figure is taken, by Mr. R. 

 R. Wingate, and also with a sight of its nest, which 

 is composed of coarse dried grass, and about three 

 inches in thickness, but very shallow; it contained 

 live beautiful white eggs, closely freckled with car- 

 nation spots. Mr. W. gives the following account 

 of the cunning manner in which it places its nest. 

 Having long wished to get the eggs, he, in June, 

 1815, succeeded in eyeing the bird to the distant 

 passage on the {op f a whin bush, by which it 

 entered and left its nest. This Avas built at the 

 bottom of a deep narrow furrow or ditch, over- 

 hung by the prickly branches of the whin, and 

 grown over with thick coarse grass, matted to- 

 gether year after year, to the height of about two 

 feet; all which he was obliged to take away piece- 

 meal, before he succeeded in gaining the prize. 



