WHITETHROAT 
dangers attendant on migration, &c.—which materially affect 
their numbers, causing a certain deficiency universal in some 
years. 
When large numbers of individuals arrive simultaneously, 
I have often noticed that a considerable proportion of them 
are immature birds with undeveloped plumage and colour 
lacking in intensity; and so much is this sometimes the 
case that it is by no means easy to find a male with the 
breast suffused with the vinous tint, so prominent a beauty 
of a really adult bird. The plumage of the males varies; 
some have much richer colouring and a greater development 
of feather; this I believe to be largely due to age, but until 
we have further information with regard to the spring moult 
it is impossible to say how much this may be the case. 
The majority of the males upon arrival in this country appear 
to have only recently completed their moult. 
Where plentiful they add considerable charm to the 
country roads and lanes, which they love to inhabit, for 
they are generally singing, uttering their peculiar hissing 
note, or performing a series of aerial dances. Tall and 
tangled hedgerows, especially by the side of the road, are 
their favourite resorts; but they are found in various places, 
such as wooded banks with Iuxuriant undergrowth, osier 
beds, gardens, the more open parts of large forests where 
the timber has recently been felled, and the outskirts of 
woods and coppices, the only real necessity to them being 
thick and tangled undergrowth, in which they can quickly 
conceal themselves and ultimately rear their young. In all 
such places they are not only very plentiful, but, in contrast 
with so many wild creatures, make their presence known— 
in fact, almost intrude themselves upon one by their apparent 
inquisitiveness. 
It often happens that solitary males make their appearance 
some few days ahead of the general bulk of the species; but 
they differ somewhat from other migratory species in this, 
that they do not increase so gradually, but arrive more 
3) 
