46 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



North Africa in the swamps of Algeria and 

 Morocco. It is a summer visitor to the south of 

 France, to Spain, Italy, Austria, and Central and 

 Southern Russia. The birds that breed in the 

 Kirghiz Steppe area and in Turkestan are possibly 

 sub-specifically distinct. The only winter quarters 

 of Savi's Warbler appear to be in Egypt and in the 

 oases of the Sahara. The haunts of this Warbler 

 are apparently confined to reed beds. The bird is 

 said not to be so shy as its congener the Grass- 

 hopper Warbler, but is skulking and wary enough 

 if alarmed, taking refuge amongst the reeds. It 

 may often be seen running mouse-like up the 

 stems of the reeds to the feathery crown, then 

 dropping again into the cover to repeat the action 

 on another stem. Sometimes it pauses on the 

 crown of a reed to utter its exceedingly monotonous 

 song, which closely resembles that of the Grass- 

 hopper Warbler — more musical, perhaps, but far 

 less powerful. This song is uttered both by day 

 and by night. The call-note is described as a 

 harsh krr. Savi's Warbler, like most other reed 

 Warblers, is a somewhat quarrelsome bird, and ever 

 ready to drive away a rival or an intruder from 

 its particular haunt. 



The nesting season of this W^arbler is in May 



