38.  WHITETHROAT. Sylvia rufa, Boddaert.  French, “Fauvette grise,” “Bec-fin Grisette.”—­The Whitethroat has hitherto perhaps been better known by the name used in the former edition of ‘Yarrell’ and by Messrs. Degland and Gerbe, Curruca cinerea, but in consequence of the inexorable rule of the British Association the name “rufa,” given by Boddaert in 1783, has now been accepted for this bird.  I have not generally thought it necessary to point out these changes, but in this instance it seemed necessary to do so, as in the former edition of ‘Yarrell’ the Chiffchaff was called by the name Sylvia rufa, and this might possibly have caused some confusion unless the change had been pointed out.

The Whitethroat is by no means so common in the Channel Islands as it is in England, and though a regular summer visitant it only makes its appearance in small numbers.  A few, however, may be seen about the fields and hedgerows in the more cultivated parts of the country.  It certainly has not got the reputation for mischief in the garden it has in England, as none of the gardeners I asked about it, and who were complaining grievously of the mischief done by birds, ever mentioned the Whitethroat, or knew the bird when asked about it.

Professor Ansted includes the bird in his list, and restricts it to Guernsey, but I see no reason why it should not occur equally in Sark and Herm.  There is no specimen at present in the Museum.

39.  LESSER WHITETHROAT. Sylvia curruca, Linnaeus.  French, “Bee-fin babillard.”—­Like the Whitethroat, the Lesser Whitethroat is a regular, but by no means a numerous summer visitant to Guernsey.  I saw a few in the willow-hedges about the Grand Mare, and in one or two other places near there, and young Le Cheminant had one or two eggs in his collection, probably taken about L’Eree.

The Lesser Whitethroat is included in Professor Ansted’s list, and only marked as occurring in Guernsey.  There is at present no specimen in the Museum.

40.  BLACKCAP. Sylvia atricapilla, Linnaeus.  French, “Fauvette a tete noire,” “Bec-fin a tete noire.”—­Though generally known as the Guernsey Nightingale, the Blackcap, though a regular, is by no means a numerous summer visitant.  I have, however, always seen a few about every time I have been in the Island in the summer.  There are a few eggs in the Museum, and in Le Cheminant’s collection.

The Blackcap is mentioned by Professor Ansted in his list, and restricted to Guernsey.  There is only one specimen—­a female—­at present in the Museum.

41.  WILLOW WREN. Phylloscopus trochilus, Linnaeus.  French, “Bee-fin Pouillat.”—­The Willow Wren is a tolerably numerous summer visitant, I believe, to all the Islands, though I have only seen it myself in Guernsey and Sark.  In Guernsey I have seen it about the Grand Mare, and in some trees near the road about St. George, and about the Vallon on the other side of the Island.  It remains all the summer and breeds.