70 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



The nest of the Whitethroat is generally 

 placed near the ground, amongst nettles or 

 other rank herbage, and is constructed of dry 

 grass-stems and horsehair. The eggs, usually 

 five in number, are minutely speckled all over 

 with ash-brown or ash-green, and spotted at the 

 larger end with gray. I have watched an old 

 Whitethroat bringing food to its young, and 

 have been surprised to see in how short a space 

 of time it contrived to find food and return to 

 the nest. Sometimes it was impossible to see 

 even with a glass what this food was, but at 

 other times I could plainly discern a cater- 

 pillar wriggling between the mandibles. 



