69 



THE LESSER WHITETHROAT. 



Sylcia curriica (L.). 



Two individuals of this species were seen in Hertfordshire 

 on the 13th of April, and apparently a few arrived in Dorset, 

 Hampshire and Sussex on the 15th and 16th, while stragglers 

 were recorded from several counties during the rest of the 

 month. It was not, however, until the 1st of May that the 

 first marked immigration took place. By that time the species 

 was thinly distributed over the southern half of England as 

 far west as Gloucester and Somerset, and as far north as 

 Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, while a few 

 had already reached Yorkshire and Northumberland. With 

 the advent of further arrivals along the whole of the south 

 coast during the first ten days of May a marked increase in 

 numbers was soon apparent, its effect being most noticeable 

 in Wales and the eastern counties of England. By the 

 middle of the month the remaining area of distribution had 

 been filled up, and the migration had practically ceased, the 

 birds having settled down in their summer-quarters. Nests 

 ready for eggs were reported from Somerset and Radnor on 

 the 14th and 15th, and after the 19th nesting had become 

 general. 



Cheonological Summary of the Records. 



April 13th. Herts. 



15th. Hants. 



,, 16th. Dorset, Sussex. 



„ 21st. Somerset, Gloucester, Staffordshire, Derby. 



„ 22i}d. Northampton. 



„ 25th. Northampton (increase). Northumber- 

 land. 



