VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 415 
about the bushes and thickets in which they have been fostered, 
but especially so on being disturbed.” He also states that this 
species is double-brooded, which I have no doubt is the case, as 
the Leicester Museum possesses a nest and young taken by me 
in the month of August, 1883, at Aylestone. 
Sylvia curruca, Naum. Lesser Whitethroat.— A summer 
migrant, but not quite so common as the last-named. Harley 
says it is very local. I have not yet received the nest, and have 
but few notes of its breeding from Mr. Davenport, who considers 
it, as I do, less common or more local than S. cinerea. He gives 
the dates of the first eggs taken by him as follows:—In 1882, 
May 8th; 1883, May 30th; 1884, May 17th; and in 1885, 
May 12th. Mr. Macaulay states that this species arrives earlier 
than the preceding one. 
Sylvia atricapilla, Naum. Blackcap. — Summer migrant. 
Generally distributed, breeding, but not so common as the 
last named species. Harley writes :—“‘ It nestles in thick bushes 
and shrubs, but I have met with its nest on the ground among 
tall matted grass, composed mainly of cleavers, soft grass, and 
other vegetable substances, matted and woven together with 
cobweb. It is lined with hair. The nest, by a careless observer, 
may be mistaken very easily for that of the Whitethroat.” 
Davenport has found the nest and eggs from 1882 to 1885 
between May 8th and 18th. 
Sylvia hortensis, Bechstein. Garden Warbler. — Summer 
migrant. Generally distributed; breeding and more common 
than the Blackeap. Harley says :—‘‘ Nidification commences in 
May, if the spring be favourable and mild. The nest is rather 
slovenly and loosely put together, which, when completed, may 
easily be mistaken for that of the Whitethroat. The fabric is 
slenderly built, and composed of goose-grass mainly, lined with 
horse-hair. It is placed generally among nettles, long grass, 
and tall plants; but more frequently we have met with it fixed 
to the dwarfed branches of the sloe, or rough twigs of the wild 
raspberry.” ‘The eggs are rather difficult to distinguish from 
those of the preceding species. 
Melizophilus undatus, Newton. Dartford Warbler.—This bird 
does not occur in the county, and is only now mentioned because 
it has by error been included in local lists on the authority of 
Yarrell and Morris, as having occurred at “ Melton Mowbray, in 
