THE BABILLARD, 



OR LESSER WHITETHROAT. 



Sylvia curruca, Lath. 



This species is considerably smaller than the 

 Whitethroat, being five inches and a quarter only 

 in length, and proportionally smaller in all its 

 dimensions. The other differences consist in the 

 bill being much shorter than that of the White- 

 throat ; the under as well as the upper mandible 

 is dusky ; the legs darker ; the whole under parts 

 of the plumage much whiter ; and the upper parts 

 do not possess the least appearance of rufous 

 brown, which in the other bird is more or less 

 invariably found, especially in the wing coverts. 

 The head and upper part of the Babillard have 

 an appearance of ash colour, or greyish blue ; and 

 the coverts are relieved with ash colour instead 

 of rusty brown, as in the Whitethroat. The whole 

 breast and belly, as well as the throat, are nearly 

 snow-white. The legs are greyish black, or deep 

 lead colour. 



This bird inhabits the hedges and bushes much 

 more closely than the Whitethroat, (observes Mr. 

 Mudie,) and does not sing on the wing. Indeed, it 

 can hardly be said to sing at all, as its note consists 

 of two whistling chatters, the second delivered a 



