110 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



to Greece, Bessarabia, Asia Minor and Palestine. Largely 

 resident, occurs in Egypt in winter. Accidental in Britain and 

 Switzerland. 



S. melanocephala leucogastra (Ledru). (^ Smaller than 

 typical form ; white on tail less in extent and less pure, more 

 grey. Wing 55-58 (H.). $ darker above than typical $ , and 

 less white on tail. 



Resident. — Canary Islands (east and west groups). 



S. melanocephala momus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg). Bow- 

 man's Warbler. ^ smaller than typical form. Wing 55-59 (H.), 

 browner above, black of crown sharply contrasting ; beneath less 

 ashy, purer white. 9 as typical 9 but uniform above, crown 

 not greyer. 



Breeds. — Palestine to W. Persia. Occurs on passage Egypt 

 in spring. 



S. melanocephala norrisae Nicoll. $ as in typical form but 

 back brown. Wing 55. Tail 52. 



Breeds. — Lake Birket Karun, Fayoum, Middle Egypt. 



Sylvia mystacea Menetries. 



^ Resembles "melanocephala" but crown greyer, not so 

 black, and less strongly contrasted with back ; beneath, chin 

 and middle abdomen white, rest of underparts vinous, flanks 

 tinged grey. Ring round eye orange. Bill brown, yellowish at 

 base below. Legs and feet reddish brown. Wing 58-63. Tarsus 

 18. Tail 56-60. Culmen ii-5-i2-5 (H.). 9 Above pale grey 

 brown, beneath buffy white. 



Breeds. — S.W. Asia. Of rare occurrence Egypt in spring. 



Sylvia subalpina subalpina Temminck. Subalpine 

 Warbler. Ital. Sterpazzolina. 



$ Above grey, tinged brown ; moustachial stripe white ; 

 throat and breast cinnamon in contrast to paler flanks, but 

 occasionally pinkish cinnamon on entire underparts ; abdomen 

 white. 1st primary about equal to coverts, 2nd between 5th and 

 6th, 3rd to 5th emarginate. Bill dark brown above, paler below 

 at base. Legs and feet pale brown, $ Above pale brown, 

 beneath white, tinged pinkish buff especially on breast and flanks. 

 Wing $ 52-62, 9 52-60. Tarsus 18-20. Bill 7-8. Tail 52-55. 



