The Lesser Whitethroat arrives a little later than the preceding species, namely about the end of April, and at once disperses throughout our woods and coppices and sets to work nest-building. The nest is still more fragile than the Whitethroat’s and lacks the lining of horsehair. It is generally placed moderately high up, about four or six feet from the ground, in a bush or hedge bordering a coppice. The eggs, four to six, are of a light cream ground colour, with a zone of dark spots round the larger end. The hen sits very closely and does not leave her eggs unless almost touched; she does not then fly, but hops quietly away into the undergrowth, where she remains motionless till the danger, real or imaginary, has gone. The young when fledged resemble their parents, and two broods are as a rule reared. Its song is a monotonous “Sip, sip, sip,” repeated again and again. Although by no means scarce, it is seldom seen unless specially searched for, most of its time being spent quietly hopping about the undergrowth searching for food, which consists almost entirely of minute insects, small caterpillars, etc. etc. It is never seen in flocks, even when migrating, a few family parties in autumn being the most that are ever noticed together. This bird has no distinctive plumage, and except for its note is very difficult to identify. The crown is smoke grey, cheeks and rest of the upper parts brownish grey, the outer feathers of the tail having white outer webs. Under parts whitish, becoming buff on the flanks. Bill black; legs slate colour. Length 5·25 in.; wing 2·6 in. The female and young are rather duller in colour. In our southern, eastern, and midland counties it is a fairly abundant summer visitor; in the West and North of England and South of Scotland it is decidedly rare, and over the rest of our islands it is a very irregular straggler and has only once occurred in Ireland. THE ORPHÆN WARBLER Sylvia orphea, Temminck This species nests abundantly in Spain and more sparingly in the South of France, but has been taken in this country on at least two occasions, on both of which the evidence pointed to its breeding or having bred with us. The eggs, except in size, are much like those of the Lesser Whitethroat. The bird itself much resembles a Blackcap, but the throat and breast are _white_ and the three outer pairs of tail feathers show some white. The female is rather duller and browner. Length 6 in.; wing 3·1 in. THE SARDINIAN WARBLER Sylvia melanocephala, Gmelin This small species, which is not unlike the Blackcap in general appearance, has a comparatively restricted distribution, being practically confined to the Mediterranean basin. The only British specimen that has hitherto been obtained was shot on June 3, 1907, in Sussex.