130 
SYLVIADJE. 
INSESSORES. S YL VIA D/E. 
DENTIROSTRES. 
WHITETHROAT. 
Sylvia cinerea. 
PLATE XXXV. FIGS. I. AND II. 
The eggs of the White throat resemble more nearly 
those of the genus Salicaria, than of the more closely 
allied species of Sylvia; they are, however, very differ¬ 
ent from either, and have a character and colouring about 
them which is peculiar to themselves, and gives them, 
though individually differing a good deal both in size 
and marking, a specific distinction, which, amongst the 
numbers I have seen, could never be mistaken ; they are 
always more or less tinted with green, and usually 
appear as though they were smeared and dirty. Some 
are much rounder than those which I have figured ; some 
are slightly marked, except where the freckles are 
crowded into a zone round the larger end, others, though 
very rarely, are white, slightly marked with greyish 
spots. 
In its nidification the Whitetliroat closely resembles 
the other species of the same genus; the nest, though 
apparently slight and comfortless, is composed of mate¬ 
rials so light, and at the same time so strong, that it is 
much more compact and firm than the more substantial- 
looking structures of the Fringillidag. It is composed 
almost entirely of the stalks of umbelliferous plants, 
bound and tied together with spiders’ webs, and bits of 
