27G THE BIKDS OF HELIGOLAND 



95. — Orphean Warbler [Sangerguasmucke]. 

 SYLVIA ORPHEA, Temminck. 



Sylvia orphca. Nauraann, ii. 445. 



Orphean Warbler. Dresser, ii. 411. 



Bee-fin orphee. Temminck, Manuel, i. 198, iii. 127. 



Reymers informed me that he had twice — now many years ago — 

 obtained this songster on this island. I have met with it only on 

 one occasion, and that on the 8th of Julj^ 1876. This is the more 

 surprising, as this bird, apart from its more southern nesting 

 stations, is quite a common breeding species in Greece, and one or 

 more examples of other south-eastern species turn up here almost 

 regularly every year during the summer months. In England 

 this songster has been shot several times ; and it is even reported 

 that its nest, with ecra's, has been found there on two occasions. 



The breeding range of this Warbler extends from the extreme 

 west of southern Europe, includes north-west Africa, and reaches 

 Turkestan and Persia. 



96, — White throat [Doi;xGKASMiJcKE]. 

 SYLVIA CINEREA, Brisson. [Bechst.]. 



Heligolandish : Eoad-riigged IJ nger = Eed-haclced Warbler. 



Sylvia cinerea. Naumann, ii. 464. 



Whitethroat. Dresser, ii. 377. 



Bee-fin grisettc. Temminck, Manuel, i. 207, iii. 133. 



This species is one of the commonest birds of this island. 

 Large numbers are seen hopping about in all the gardens from 

 the time when the weather begins to get warm — about the middle 

 of April to the end of May ; and during its autumn migration, 

 from the end of August and throughout September, the potato- 

 fields often literally teem with these birds. 



The Whitethroat breeds in large numbers from Portugal to 

 Turkestan ; in the north its breeding range extends beyond central 

 Scandinavia as far as Archangel. 



On this island, where birds seldom make their song heard, it is 

 always a great enjoyment to listen to the soft, continuous piping 

 and chatter of this bird in the sunny morning hours ; it sounds to 

 one as though the birds were rehearsing the introductory lessons 

 for the complete melody which is to resound later on in their nest- 



