204 EGGS OF BEITISH BIEDS. 



zone, sometimes an irregular circular patch. Many of the eggs 

 are streaked with very deep brown, and usually most of the large 

 spots are paler round the edge than in the centre, and on all 

 eggs the large spots are intermingled with finer markings of pale 

 yellowish brown. They measure from 078 to 0'6 inch in length, 

 and from 0*55 to 05 inch in breadth. 



THE SUB-ALPINE WAKBLEE. 



(Sylvia subalpina.) 

 Plate 53, Figs. 3, 4. 



This Warbler is a little smaller than the Lesser Whitethroat, 

 and is distinguished by its vinous-chestnut chin and breast. A 

 specimen of this South European bird was captured on St. Kilda 

 by Mr. J. S. Elliot, on the 13th of June, 1894. 



The nest is composed of dry stalks, with dead thistle-leaves, 

 and lined with fine dry grass or long horse-hair. 



The eggs are four in number, pale yellowish or greenish-white, 

 speckled all over, especially at the larger end, with light-brown 

 or slaty-blue. 



THE DABTFOED WAKBLEE. 



(Sylvia provincialis.) * 

 Plate 53, Fig. 1. 



The headquarters of this species appear to be in the basin of 

 the Mediterranean, where it occurs in Spain, the extreme South 

 of France, Corsica, Sardinia, Italy, and Sicily. Canon Tristram 

 obtained it in Palestine ; and Heuglin found it near Alexan- 

 dria. It is a resident in Marocco and Algeria. In England it is 

 principally confined to the counties bordering the Channel, but 

 also occurs in the counties of Surrey, Oxford, Worcester, Leicester, 

 and Derby. 



The nest is a very slender structure, built principally of the 

 finest round grass-stalks and slender stems of various plants, a 

 good deal of moss being used in the foundation, and small bits of 

 wool being introduced into the lining. The nest is very small and 



* Sylvia undata — Saunders, Manual, p. 53. Melizophilus undatus — Sharpe, Handb., 



I., p. 198. 



