Observations on Montagu's Ornilkological Dictionary. 2 1 7 
the hole, intending to catch it, and commenced hammering the ti'ee to 
drive it out, but it appeared to know that it was safe, and would not 
be disturbed. We next introduced a stick into the hole, which the 
bird seized, and twisted round, screaming at the same time violently. 
It then came and sat close to the hole, watching our proceedings, but 
without seeming alanned. After some time, however, it flew out, and 
was taken in the net. This enraged, but did not seem to intimidate 
it, and it bit fm'iously. Having examined it, it was again put to the 
opening, which it entered, and would not quit it again while we stayed. 
On the 19th, the nest appearing to be forsaken, we took it. It was 
composed of moss and fine fibres of bark, and lined with a great quan- 
tity of cow's hair, wool, and feathers. The eggs were thirteen in 
number, of a reddish-white colour, sprinkled with small light brown- 
ish-red spots, and measured 1 /^ by 1 -/n inches in circumference. 
Babillard. — Lesser White-Throat, — Carruca Gumilu, (Si/lvia SylrielUt) 
page 17, Mr. Rennie says "is confined to the western parts of the kingdom, 
from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, in both which counties we have found 
them, and is probably in part of Somersetshire, but not in Devonshire and 
Cornwall." 
This bird is not uncommon in this neighbourhood; it frequents 
gardens, picking off caterpillars and insects fi-om the fi"uit trees, and 
uttering at the same time a soft, low, whispering song, which can only 
be heard a short distance. Its manners are more gentle than those of 
the White-throat, though equally lively. The following description of 
its nest differs a little from that given by Montagu : — 
1821, May 13. — Found a nest of the Sylvia sylvieUa, Lesser White- 
throat; it was built on the outside of a large bush of the Rosa arvensis. 
White Rose, or as it is commonly called. Bird Rose, which seems 
to be its favourite situation for building. The female was not easily 
disturbed fi-om her nest, which was composed almost entirely of the dry 
stems of Eriffe, or Cleavers, Galium aparine, and other species of Ga- 
litctn, with a very few small pieces of green moss. It was lined at the 
bottom, with very fine fibrous roots, and only a single horse-hair was 
found in it. A tuft of strong dry grass served as a foundation to build 
on. The eggs, four in number, were almost transparent, of a reddish 
white colour, marked round the thicker end with blotches and spots of 
yellowish-bro\vn, liver-brown, and broccoli-brown ;* they varied much 
in their markings, some having the thick end only, and others almost 
the whole egg, mottled. On removing the ycll^> the colour changeni to 
greenish-white. They measured in circumference, l^'g by I J inches. 
The nest was built so slightly, that the eggs might be seen through 
the side. 
• Werner's Nomenclature of Colours, by P. Syme. 
Vol.. I, No. 5. EE 
