168 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



as tbe whole structure, with a depth of four inches and a 

 width of three — so giving room enough for the bird to 

 turn about, even both hen and cock sometimes occupying 

 it at the same time, as seen in this one. 



THE WHITETHEOAT— ITS FLIGHT AND 

 SONG. 



At this period of the year (early May) the Whitethroat 

 {Sylvia cinerea) may be frequently seen mounting up into 

 the air in a nearly vertical line, singing as it goes. The 

 flight, though direct, is not continuous, but in starts or 

 by stages, much after the manner of the skylark. It 

 does not, however, ascend so high as the lark, some ten 

 or fifteen yards being the summit of its soaring ambition ; 

 on attaining which, it poises for a few seconds, then flies 

 back to the bush, or hedgerow, from which it started. 

 The naturalist of Selborne mentions the Whitethroat as 

 one of the few birds that " sing as they fly,^' very 

 correctly describing the manner " by odd jerks and 

 gesticulations." 



The song of the Whitethroat has a certain resemblance 

 to the first few strains of that of the blackcap. The 

 latter, however, is of longer continuance, and the notes 

 that succeed, the " inward melody " and " gentle modu- 

 lations" spoken of by Gilbert White, are wanting to the 

 former. Listening to this portion of the blackcap's lay, 

 one might fancy it to proceed from the throat of a black- 

 bird, singing in the heart of a grove or wood, at a far 

 distance off. 



