160 Silviadcu. 



latter end of summer, together with the Whitethroat and Black- 

 cap, for the sake of currants and other fruit.' 



52. COMMON WHITETHROAT (Curruca cinerea). 



This is the commonest of all our little summer warblers, and 

 may be seen in every shady lane or thick hedge, almost in every 

 bramble and bed of nettles. Its head and back are light brown, 

 under parts dusky white slightly tinged with rose-red ; in habits 

 it resembles its congeners previously described ; but it has one- 

 peculiarity, which consists in its often singing on the wing, as it 

 rises with a very peculiar flight, sailing round in little circles, till 

 it attains a considerable height in the air, and then descends, 

 slowly to the same spot whence it started ; at other times it will 

 erect its crest, puff out its throat, stretch its neck, and exhibit 

 every mark of excitement and defiance, while it seems to strain 

 every nerve to raise its voice above its rivals. 



The generic name, Curt^uca, if derived from the Latin, and 

 signifying ' the runner,' may, I suppose, with sufficient accuracy,, 

 describe its rapid movements at the bottom of the thickest 

 hedges. In France it is Bee-fin grisette, and in Sweden Grd 

 Sdngare, which are mere translations of the specific name 

 cinerea. In Germany, too, it is Fahle Grasmucke, ' Ash-coloured 

 Grass-fly;' but in Portugal it is known as Pcqm-amoras, 

 literally ' Blackberry or Mulberry Eater.'* Mr. Tait adds that its. 

 disappearance in October coincides Avith that of the blackberries,, 

 of which it is gluttonously fond ; and it is probable that many 

 blackberry plants are dispersed by seeds dropped by this bird. 



In Wiltshire it is popularly known as the ' Nettle Creeper/ 

 from its partiality to ditches and banks where nettles abound ; 

 and there it delights to make its semi-transparent nest, mooring 

 it to the stems of nettles, much as the Reed Warbler attaches 

 her nest to the reeds on the banks of streams. Though undoubt- 

 edly fond of fruit, it confers untold benefits on man by its. 

 wholesale destruction of caterpillars, aphides, and other destruc- 

 tive insects. 



His for 1887, p. 90, Mr. W. C. Tait en the Birds o Portugal. 



