THE LESSER WHITETHROAT 161 



more common (Sylvia cinerea). Both species arrive in 

 Great Britain at the same time, that is about the second 

 week in April, to stay until the beginning of September. 

 With us they nest in brambles and low hedgerows, and 

 because of the fondness of nettle beds, schoolboys know 

 it mostly as the " Nettle-creeper." The male is a 

 courageous little bird ; he will often follow one along 

 the side of his favourite hedgerow, flitting from branch 

 to branch with the feathers on head and throat bluffed 

 out and agitating his tail. We hear his song by night 

 as well as by day. 



The Lesser Whitethroat is 5*25 inches long. The crown 

 is ashen-grey ; cheeks darker, mantle grey-brown ; back 

 and breast white, merging into yellowish-red at the sides. 

 The side feathers of the tail are wedge-shaped, the feathers 

 near it having small indistinct spots. Beak small, awl- 

 shaped ; legs strong and bluish. The nest is generally 

 found in whitethorn hedges and sloe-bushes, at about 

 two and a half feet from the ground; in gardens the 

 nest is placed higher. It is composed of fine grass and 

 root fibre, interwoven and compacted with spider's web, 

 and lined with pig's bristles and horse-hair. The bird 

 lays five or six beautifully formed eggs, which are white 

 or bluish with delicate speckles, which are thicker at the 

 larger end of the egg, round which they form a ring. 



