I 8 BRITISH BIRDS. 



margined with rust-colour ; throat and centre of abdomen 

 white ; breast, flanks and under tail-coverts with a huffish 

 tinge ; bill brown above, flesh-coloured at base below ; 

 tarsi pale brown, claws darker. Length 5 *6o ; wing 

 270. Female : duller in plumage and with the head and 

 nape greyish brown. Young birds have a more decided 

 reddish tinge above. 



Very abundant from mid-April to September, except in 

 extreme north of Scotland ; common in every county of 

 Ireland. Frequents hedges, copses and outskirts of 

 woods ; nettle-beds are favourite resorts, hence local 

 name of " nettle-creeper." Nest: in small bushes on 

 hedge-bottoms among nettles, etc., usually less than two 

 feet from ground ; very slightly constructed of dry grass- 

 stalks, neatly lined with horsehair. Eggs 14 or 5, seldom 

 6 ; yellowish or greenish-white, more or less finely spotted 

 with light brown and with underlying purplish spots ; 

 sometimes markings consist of a few blotches around 

 larger end; size, 72 by '55. Short song of male is 

 not unpleasant, and is heard until the early summer ; 

 during pairing time it is frequently uttered on the wing, to 

 the accompaniment of singular antics, as the bird shoots 

 upward from its perch near the top of a small tree. 

 Alarm -note, low and harsh. 



23. Sylvia eurruea (Linn.). LESSER WHITETHROAT. 



Hab. Temperate Europe, north nearly to Arctic circle. 

 In winter south to Persia, Arabia, and Northern Africa. 



Male : crown dull grey ; ear-coverts dark brown ; upper 

 plumage brownish-grey ; wing-feathers browner, but quite 

 without rust-coloured margins ; tail brown, outer tail- 

 feather on each side mostly white ; throat and ab- 

 domen silvery white, with a faint pinkish tinge ; flanks 



