Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 8 of 9.djvu/50

 the greenish yellow of the upper parts and the smaller wing-coverts are a similar colour, whereas the bastard wing is greyish brown. The tail feathers are greyish brown edged with the same colour as the rump and upper tail-coverts, the shafts being dark reddish brown, and the under surface of the tail and wing feathers is grey narrowly edged with greyish white. The outer edge of the anterior part of the underside of the wing is brownish grey, the feathers having light yellow edges, the smaller wing-coverts are white and the axillaries light yellow. The bill is brown, the colour being of a lighter shade on the edges and at the base of the lower mandible, iris is dark brown, feet fleshy brown, and the soles olive yellow.

The colouring of the female is similar to that of the male but not so bright.

Immature.—The upper parts are slightly lighter and more olive yellow than in the case of the adult in spring, the yellow parts of the head and throat less brilliant, but the underparts similar.

Nestling.—The general colour is similar to that of the adult in spring but brighter. The upper parts incline towards grass green, the yellow throat and upper breast are deep sulphur yellow, and the superciliary stripe is very conspicuous. The innermost secondaries are broadly margined with light yellow, the whole of the underparts and under tail-coverts being pure white. Upper mandible is horn brown and the lower yellowish flesh colour.

It is found breeding in suitable localities throughout England and Wales, except in the west of Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, but is thinly distributed in Scotland, only being common in parts of the Clyde area and not breeding north of Loch Broom on the west side, though it has