THROUGH WILD EUROPE 301 



On the 22 nd of May a male Barred Warbler 

 [Sylvia nisoria) was brought in by a boy. It was 

 barred like a little Sparrow-hawk. A few days 

 later, I see, on reference to my note-book, that 

 we took a clutch of seven Bee-eaters' eggs, and 

 also seven Hoopoes. Of Rollers the largest 

 clutch was four. 



On the 30th of May Rettig shot a Pygmy Cor- 

 morant, alias Schtinker. At the report a Purple 

 Heron and a Marsh Harrier both got up. From 

 the Harrier's manner of rising I suspected a nest, 

 and on going to the spot found one containing four 

 nearly fresh eggs. On the same day I shot a 

 Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) with the 

 walking-stick at very close quarters. Three of us 

 — Rettig, a fisherman, and myself — were peering 

 into the recesses of a floating reed-island while 

 the bird was reeling away within two yards of 

 our noses, and we couldn't see it. At last I caught 

 a glimpse and fired ; but though we all saw it fall 

 it was not to be found, nor could we discover a 

 nest, though in all probability there was one quite 

 close to us. I also shot four Great Reed Warblers 

 [Acrocephalus turdoides), but only succeeded in 

 finding one. This bird is very dead-reed-like in 

 colour everywhere; the only bright part about it 

 is the palate, which is brilliant orange. 



Two clutches of Black Terns' eggs were also 



