24 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



LESSER WHITETHROAT FEEDING 

 ITS YOUNG. 



nest, and if 

 I happened 

 to disturb 

 these very 

 pretty meet- 

 ings he be- 

 came ex- 

 ceedingly 

 angry and 

 protested 

 even more 

 loudly and 

 boldly than 



. 



A pair 



of birds of this species has bred for 

 years in succession at the same spot 



in a Surrey hedgerow near my 

 home. 



The Lesser Whitethroat, although a 

 graceful and interesting bird, is not a 

 very accomplished vocalist ; the male, 

 however, tries with a will to make up any 

 deficiencies in quality by a prodigal 

 liberality in quantity. I have known 

 instances when he appeared to sing 

 almost incessantly the whole day long. 

 He also remains in song later in the 

 summer than his better-known rela- 

 tive. 



This species arrives upon our shores 

 in April and departs again for its winter 

 abode in Africa during September, strag- 

 glers occasionally tarrying until October. 



