171 [Vol. xliii. 



(S. communis), which during life exhibited certain charac- 

 teristics distinguishing it from other birds of the same 

 species : — 



In the middle of May 1921, a cock Whitethroat appeared 

 in a certain hawthorn-bush on Crockhara Hill Common. 

 Mr. Huntley's attention was first drawn to the bird by its 

 peculiar trilling note whilst listening for a Grrasshopper 

 Warbler — a bird with which he was not familiar. Not only 

 the song, but the behaviour of the bird whilst so engao-ed 

 was quite distinct from the ordinary Whitethroat. 



In 1921 it built three nests, but did not find a mate. 

 In 1922 it returned at the end of April to a spot within 

 100 yards of its haunt tlie year before, and it sang the same 

 song. In the middle of May it built the nest exhibited, and 

 in its construction employed a considerable amount of willow 

 catkin down and sat upon the nest for 14 days, during which 

 period it was verj tame and could be captured on the nest. 



■ In 1923 it reappeared in the same spot about the 7th of 

 April, and on the 15th of May commenced to build the nest 

 exhibited in bluckberry-bramble, within 10 yards of the^ 

 1922 nest ; it had not completed the same by June 7th. 

 During these three years it was never seen to associate with 

 any other Whitethroat, but was extremely pugnacious to 

 birds of other species. Whilst singing, the bird soared in 

 the air like a Common Whitethroat, but did not raise its 

 crest, though it puffed out its throat. The song itself was 

 peculiar and arresting, being quite unlike that of tlie 

 Common, but more like that of the Lesser Whitethroat. 

 It commenced with syllables which can be interpreted as 

 " Tyar " in an ascending scale, breaking off into a trill 

 which lasted as long as 40 seconds. The second half of the 

 song greatly resembled that of the lesser species. The 

 alarm-notes might be construed as " Tek-tek-tek,'" quite 

 distinct from the hoarse guttural note of the brooding White- 

 throat. 



In general appearance the bird when alive appeared 

 plumper, the head darker, and the breast pinker than the 

 normal bird. The bird could invariably be no longer found 

 after July 7th. 



