o9 



THE WHITETHROAT. 



Sylvia cinerea Bechst. 



During the first half o£ April stragglers (chiefly single birds) 

 were reported from most of the extreme southern and eastern 

 counties, as well as from Leicestershire^ Staffordshire, Derby- 

 shire and Lancashire. On the 16th of April an increase in 

 numbers was reported from Hampshire^ and at St. Catherine's 

 light hundreds were seen between midnight and 3 A.M. on 

 the 16th/17th, and large numbers between 10 p.m. and mid- 

 night on the 17th. At 3 a.m. on the 18th others were noted 

 at Owers light- vessel (Sussex). 



This first large ' wave ' of immigration appears to have 

 spread chiefly over the southern portion of the country. 

 "Records of many from Yorkshire on the 20th and of an 

 increase in Staflbrdshire and Lancashire on the 21st were the 

 only reports of any consequence from' the more northern 

 counties up to the 23rd, on which date the arrival of a single 

 bird in Northumberland was recorded. 



A second immigration took place on the nights of the 

 21st/22nd and 23rd/24th of April, when very large numbers 

 arrived at St, Catherine's light. At the same time a general 

 increase in numbers was observable throughout the whole of 

 England and Wales, and a northward extension of range 

 was marked by the first arrival in Westmoreland on the 25th 

 and in Cumberland on the 28th. In both counties a further 

 increase was observed on the 3rd of May. 



A third ^ wave ' of immigrants occurred between the 9th 

 and 15th of May, numbers of birds being recorded from 

 St. Catherine's on almost every night, while on the 14th/15th 

 great numbers were killed and others were seen at the 

 Kentish Knock light-vessel off the north coast of Kent. 



e2 



