79 

 MOTACILLA SYLVIA. 



Syst. Nat. 330. 



THE WHITE-THROAT. 



PLATE LXXIX. 



X he bill is black at the point ; dusky at the base : the 

 mouth, orange-colour ; the iris of the eyes, brown ; the 

 pupil, large and black ; the cheeks are olive-brown ; 

 the head and back, red-brown, inclining a little to an 

 olive-colour ; the feathers of the tail are dusky, with 

 red-brown edges, except the two outmost feathers on 

 each side, which have their outer webs white. The 

 quill and covert feathers of the wings are dusky, with 

 red-brown edges, except the first quill, which has its 

 outer border white. The throat is white, thickly cov-^ 

 ered with short feathers ; which, when he sings, rise 

 like a ruff round the base of the lower chap. The 

 breast is tinged with a pleasant reddish brown ; the 

 belly and thighs are white. The inner fore toe ad- 

 heres to the middle one by a membrane ; the legs and 

 feet are a dull orange-colour. 



In breeding time the cock sings stoutly. Seated on 

 some low bush, with head erect, mouth wide open, and 

 throat distended, he pours out his variety of notes with 

 boldness and great spirit. 



The butterfly on the plate is the dark clouded yellozo.* 

 It frequents meadows, in the month of August, but is 

 very rare in most parts of this kingdom. 



* Papilio Electra Linn. 



