The Whitethroat. 137 
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martin, and redstart, and is sure to be quickly noticed 
after its arrival, hopping from branch to branch in the 
lower boughs of trees, or creeping through the middle 
parts of some hedge or high weeds growing on the 
bank. This creeping and hiding manner is performed 
with several peeps at the inspector, reminding one of 
the actions of the weasel when in a heap of broken 
brick-rubbish : it shows its head first in one recess and 
the next minute it suddenly appears in another; after 
this bird has taken a glance it is lost to sight for a 
second, and the only assurance we have of its being 
there is a harsh note, as if it were angry and did not 
want to be noticed, deeming the presence of the per- 
son intrusive; it often slips cut of the hedge on the 
other side, settling again a few yards farther from the 
Spot it was in before, and beginning a new search in 
the same way, but it is betrayed directly by its fre- 
PMc miei onould a stone or lump of earth be 
thrown into the place where the Whitethroat is, it 
| immediately bursts into a volley of those sounds, as if 
to say, “I have had enough of you, and I shall be 
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