18 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
Genus — Sylvia. 
16. Sylvia cinerea, Whitethroat. 
Peggy. Nettlecreeper. Muffy Whitethroat. 
Nettlemonger. 
A very common summer visitor. 
They usually arrive in April and depart in September, 
but in 1902, hundreds were noted at the Needles Light- 
house at 2 a.m., on May nth, and twelve were killed 
against the light ; and on August 30th of the same year, 
others were seen flying round the light at 2 a.m., and two 
were caught. 
Gilbert White writes of its song^ : "The note of the 
whitethroat, which is continually repeated, and often 
attended with odd gesticulations on the wing, is harsh and 
displeasing. These birds seem of a pugnacious disposi- 
tion, for they sing with an erected crest and attitudes of 
rivalry and defiance ; are shy and wild in breeding time, 
avoiding neighbourhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and 
commons." 
Both Dean Herbert and Mr. Harting thought that this 
description must have been taken from the lesser white- 
throat, but we cannot agree with them. 
^ Letter xl. to Pennant. Selboine. September 2nd,. 1774. 
