W II I T E T H R 0 A L 
CURRUCA CINE RE A. 
We are informed by several writers that this species makes its appearance in Great Britain towards the 
end of April. This is certainly correct as regards tlie first coiners, though the greater number of our 
visitors do not arrive till the first or second week in May, and it is probably near the end of the month 
before the last stragglers have reached our shores. Having carefully taken down the dates on which I 
met with large numliers in the immediate vicinity of the south coast, it was easy to ascertain the period over 
which their spring migration extended. 
The Whitethroat is common in most parts of England where the country is suited to its habits. I 
remarked several pairs in various districts in Scotland; but, except in certain localities, it is far less numerous 
than in England, and, according to my own experience, is not observed in the northern counties. 
These lively little migrants soon make their arrival known, showing themselves, singing and chattering 
on the top of the hedges, shortly after they reach our shores for their summer visit. They appear happy 
enough when once they have made the land; but I have noticed them very hard pressed during a fresh 
north-west wind in the channel. These birds seem to fly low, possibly in order to escape the force of the 
wind ; and this unfortunately leads to their being struck down by the spray when some unusually heavy 
sea happens to break right in front of them. I believe the smaller birds of passage seldom attempt to 
cross in the face of a gale ; but that they will occasionally make a mistake in the weather there is good proof, 
as I have picked up several (particularly of this species) floating dead on the water a few miles off the south 
coast. Under the date of May 17, 1872, I find in my notes the following entry “ Strong breeze with 
drifting rain from the north-east. Swallows were again crossing the channel. There was, in fact, a 
constant stream of small birds, AVhitetbroats and other lYarblers forming the majority ; I also remarked 
one or two Spotted Elycatchers. Many of these travellers could barely hold their way in the face of 
the frequent squalls and heavy rain ; and the greater number of those we noticed, ten or a dozen miles off 
the land, must have had hard work to make the shore.” On the following day (May 18) I was again 
in the channel. The wind had dropped, and tliere ^^ as scarcely a breath of air, the sea, for several hours, 
being as still as a mill-pond. I did not notice any Warblers on passage; but several M hitethroats were 
met with floating dead on the water, also one Elycatcher and two Willow-Wrens. It is probable, if any 
of the small migrants had made the attempt to cross during the early morning, that the still w eather had 
enabled them to complete the journey at their usual hour. IVith the exception of the Swallow tribe, who 
appear to fly with somewhat less regularity, I believe the most of our small summer visitors that cross 
the English Channel arrive during the first three or four hours of daylight. A sudden shift of wind, 
accompanied by heavy squalls of drifting rain, of course delays their passage and is frequently fatal to 
hundreds, if not thousands. 
Tliough I have little doubt that hy far the greater number of these birds land on the south coast of 
