. Britain's birds and their nests . ne and dainty lines. A good development ofsinging powers is the rule. Many have but a shortrefrain, pleasing but not elaborate, while others are amongour most accomplished songsters. The present species fallswithin the former category. The Whitethroat is large for a Warbler, and theconspicuous feature of its plumage is indicated by itsname. In summer it is abundantly and generally distri-buted in all suitable parts of the British Isles excepttowards the north of Scotland. It arrives about mid-April in the south, later in the north, and quits ourshores early
. Britain's birds and their nests . ne and dainty lines. A good development ofsinging powers is the rule. Many have but a shortrefrain, pleasing but not elaborate, while others are amongour most accomplished songsters. The present species fallswithin the former category. The Whitethroat is large for a Warbler, and theconspicuous feature of its plumage is indicated by itsname. In summer it is abundantly and generally distri-buted in all suitable parts of the British Isles excepttowards the north of Scotland. It arrives about mid-April in the south, later in the north, and quits ourshores early in September. The nest is occasionally at some distance from theground, normally close to it. A thick bank of nettles isa typical situation, but low bushes and hedges are oftenused. The nest itself is a rather deep cup slightly builtof grass, and lined with hair and fine roots. The fourto six eggs have a yellowish-white ground, thickly coveredwith olivaceous specks and lilac under-marks. The generaleffect is very variable, Plate 123. GARDEN-WARBLERSyrma hortensis. Length, 5-75 in. ; wing, 3 in. [PasSERES : Turdidae ; SylviiiicC.]2 o 322 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 32S THE LESSER WHITETHROAT (Sylvia curruca). The Lesser Whitethroat is a decidedly smaller birdthan the last, and, among other points of difference, itlacks the chestnut margins on the wing-feathers. It isa summer visitor in smaller numbers to the south, east,and centre of England and Wales. In the west andnorth, as well as in the south of Scotland, it is ratheruncommon and local. To Ireland and the north of Scot-land it is an exceptional wanderer. The nest is shallowerthan the Whitethroafs, and is very frequently placed ina hedge. The five or six creamy eggs have yellowish-brown blotches and gray under-markings. THE GARDEN=WARBLER (Sylvia hortensis). Plate 123. From the end of April to late in September this littleWarbler is common over the greater part of England andWales, the southern half of Scotlan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirdsne, bookyear1910
