63 



THE LESSER WHITETHROAT. 



Sylvia curruca (L.). 



This bird appears to have entered the country along the 

 whole south coast, but mainly to the east of Dorset. The 

 first arrival was noted in Somerset on the 17th o£ April, 

 and in the course of the following week stray birds were 

 observed in various counties as far north as Staffordshire, 

 Leicester and Derby. Between the 24th and the 27th 

 larger numbers arrived leading to increases in Berkshire 

 on the same dates and in Cambridge and Yorkshire on the 

 29th. 



The main immigratory movement began on the south 

 coast on the nights o£ the 28th and 29th of April, when 

 great numbers were reported at the Dorsetshire and Hamp- 

 shire lights. It was continued during the two following 

 nights, when arrivals took place both to the east and west of 

 Hampshire. By the time the rearguard of this migration, 

 which was recorded over the same area between the 6th and 

 8th of May, had reached our shores the bulk of our summer- 

 residents had no doubt arrived. 



There were indications, however, of a further influx at the 

 eastern end of the south coast on the 15th of May. Lesser 

 Whitethroats were nesting in Cambridge on the 6th of May, 

 in Somerset on the 15th and in Radnor on the 24th, while 

 nests with eggs were found in Cambridge on the 8th and in 

 Surrey on the 19th. 



Chronological Summary of the Records. 



April 17th. Somerset. 



„ 18th. Hants, Berks, Staffordshire. 



