BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE LESSER WHITE-THROAT. 



(Sylvia Ctirruea, Lath. Bee-fin babillard y Temm.) 



THIS bird is of a slender shape, like the Willow 

 Wren, and from its shy disposition, is not often 

 seen. By those who have watched its motions, it 

 is described as darting 1 like a mouse through the 

 interior branches of the brakes and underwoods, 

 among which it shelters itself. Its length is four 

 inches and seven-eighths, breadth seven inches 

 and a quarter, weight six drachms. The irides 

 are dark hazel ; both mandibles are dark at the 

 tips; the under one yellowish towards the base. 

 The upper plumage is of a mouse coloured brown ; 

 the scapulars and quills nearly the same, edged 

 with lighter brown; and the two outside feathers 

 of the tail, with dull white; the under parts, from 

 the chin to the vent, are more or less of a silvery 

 white ; legs, toes, and claws brown. 



Our figure was taken from a bird which was shot 

 in the boundary hedge of Newcastle Town Moor, 



