THE WHITETHEOAT, 



Sylvia cinerea. 

 MotaciUa 



HE Whitethroat is decidedly the 

 commonest of the Warbler tribe, 

 and may be found more 

 or less plentifully throughout 

 England, especially towards 

 the south. These beautiful 

 and elegant birds frequent 

 gardens, thickets, hedgerows, 

 or the outskirts of woods ; and, 

 unlike most of the Sylvia 

 tribe, will even make a home 

 upon the hill-sides, amidst the 

 furze and brambles. 



From a habit of frequenting, 

 and even building, amidst nettles, 

 this bird is known in many dis- 

 tricts as the " Nettle-Creeper/' 



The Whitethroat is about 

 5| inches in length; the head 

 and neck are grey ; the back, too, is grey, 

 but tinged deeply with brown. The 

 tail is dark brown, the feathers being 

 edged with rust-colour, the two outer feathers, however, 

 are greyish-white, which is most distinctly perceptible 



