•217 
Observations on Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary. 
tho hole, inteiidlnpr to catcli it, and commenced hammering the tree to 
drive it Ont, 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, scteaming at the same time violently. 
It then came and sat close to the hole, watching our proceedings, but 
without seeming alarmed. x\fter some time, however, it flew out, and 
was taken in the net. This enraged, but did not seem to intimidate 
it, and it bit furiously. Having examined it, it was again put to the 
opening, which it entered, and wouldmot 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 nith 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 ]-/g by li% inches in circumference. 
Babillard.—Lesser White-Throat,— Carnica Gnrt'ufa^ (Silvia St/lviella) 
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 
Cornw'all.’’ 
This bird is not uncommon in this neighbourhood; it frequents 
gardens, picking otf caterpillars and insects from the fruit trees, and 
uttering at the same time a soft, low, whispering song, which cun only 
be heard a short distance. Its manners are more srentle 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 18.—Found a nest of the Sylvia sylviella, 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 from her nest, which was composed almost entirely of the dry 
stems of Eriffe, or Cleavers, Galium aparine^ and other species of Ga¬ 
lium, 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 wa^ 
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-brown, liver-brown, and broccoli-brown they varied much 
in their markings, some having the thick end only, and others almo&t 
the whole egg, mottled. On removing the yolk, the colour changed to 
greenish-white. They measured in circumference, I-f®?y by O inches. 
The nest was built so slightly, that the eggs might be seen throngli 
the side. i .rv 
* WciTPi's NojuonclatiuT of Cv>lonrs, by P. Synio. 
VoL. T, No. 5. EE 
