LESSER WHITETEROAT. ° sis: 
Hampshire, Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Norfolk, 
Bucks., Lincolnshire, and Northumberland. 
In Wales it is rare. 
In Scotland it has been noticed near Edinburgh, where, 
however, it is extremely rare; as also at Musselburgh, and 
in Haddingtonshire and Ayrshire; also about Paisley, in Ren- 
frewshire; and more commonly, it is said, at Hamilton, in 
Lanarkshire. 
It has not yet been met with in Ireland or in Orkney. 
This bird frequents gardens, hedges, copses, shrubberies, 
and thickets, especially the first-named if affording ample 
shelter. It is not unfrequently to be seen in trees, where, 
perched on some open branch, with its plumage puffed out, 
its snow-white breast is an object of observation. It is at 
times to be observed on commons, but only where there are 
trees. 
It arrives here about the middle or the latter part of 
April, but sometimes earlier, for Mr. Edward Blyth has taken 
the nest on the 23rd. It reaches Scotland about the 10th. 
of May; and even in England is occasionally as late as the 
beginning of that month. Some few remain till the first 
week in October, but the greater number take their departure 
in September. 
In its habits it appears shy and retiring, but is also noisy, 
volatile, cheerful, spirited, and restless, so that it is the more 
frequently under observation, but keeping especially close if 
approached, when it utters its alarm note, in the midst of 
the tangled underwood, where it builds, through the interstices 
of which it threads its way with extreme readiness. It is of a 
pugnacious and petulant disposition, attacking and driving 
away other birds of larger size than itself. It is able to be 
kept in confinement. It may be seen sometimes crossing a 
field, or flying from one tree to another in a fluttering un- 
steady sort of manner, and in any way but ‘as the crow 
flies, uttering its monotonous cry all along. 
Insects of different kinds and their larve are their ordinary 
food, and the winged kinds are sometimes taken in the air, 
while the others are assiduously sought after among the leaves 
and branches. They make sad havoe in gardens among such 
fruits and vegetables as currants, cherries, raspberries, and 
peas; but the evil is abundantly recompensed by the vast 
quantity of aphides and injurious insects which they otherwise 
destroy. 
