NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 63 



Family TURDID.E. Genus Aedon. 



Sub-family S YL VII N^. 



RUFOUS WARBLER. 



Aedon galactodes {Teuuniiick). 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter half of May and in 

 June. 



Breeding area : Extreme south-western Pal^earctic 

 region. The Rufous Warbler breeds commonly in the 

 Spanish Peninsula, in Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Tripoli, 

 Egypt, and Palestine as far north as about lat. 34°. 



Breeding habits : The Rufous Warbler is another 

 very late migrant, not crossing the Mediterranean before 

 the end of April. In its choice of a haunt the Rufous 

 Warbler shows considerable divergence from that of its 

 near relations, often frequenting very bare and sterile 

 spots. In Algeria I remarked its preference for the 

 Arab gardens of prickly pears, and the date palm 

 forests where little undergrowth is to be seen. In other 

 localities it selects olive groves and vineyards, and the 

 thickets of tamarisk by the river sides. This Warbler 

 pairs annually, and in the season of courtship the male 

 may often be seen in chase of the female, both spending 

 much of their time upon the ground. The nest is 

 placed in a tamarisk tree or bush, in a hedge, or between 

 the leaves of a cactus, at heights varying from one to 

 six feet from the ground. Mr. Salvin records a nest 

 which he found amongst the exposed roots of a tree on 

 a bank. It is a large and somewhat bulky, cup-shaped 

 structure, composed externally of dead shoots, roots, 

 straws, coarse grass, and bits of lichen, lined with wool, 

 vegetable down, a few feathers or hair. The lining 



