76 ICTERINE WARBLER. 



and South-eastern Europe as far as Malta, it is only known on its 

 migrations to and from Africa — where it winters down to about 25° 

 S. lat. ; but in Sicily and on the mainland of Italy, where it arrives 

 in April, it remains to breed ; though Sardinia and Corsica are 

 seldom, if ever, visited. In Central and Northern Europe, up to 

 the Baltic provinces, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Belgium, it 

 is common from the middle of May until autumn. In the north- 

 east of France it is very abundant, and extends westward as far 

 as the valley of the Seine, in and beyond which is found the next 

 species, H. polyglotta, often confounded with our bird both as 

 regards specimens and nomenclature. The Icterine Warbler appears 

 to be rare in Savoy and unknown to the westward. Both species 

 meet in Tunisia. 



The nest, generally placed in the fork of a small tree or lilac bush 

 in a slightly moist locality, is a firm, deep, and often beautiful 

 structure of dry grass, wool, thistle-down, lichens &c., lined with 

 horsehair. The 4-5 eggs are dull rose-pink, blotched, and some- 

 times scrolled with dark purplish-brown : average measurements 

 •72 by "55 in. In Holland incubation begins about the end of May 

 or early in June, almost every garden containing a pair ; and the 

 presence of an intruder of his own, or any other small species, is 

 promptly resented by the male. The song has been much admired 

 for its variety, and its supposed imitation of the notes of other 

 birds — whence the German name Spotivogel or Mocking-bird ; but 

 Seebohm, who was gifted with a fine ear for notes and who had 

 enjoyed considerable experience, saw no reason for supposing the 

 bird to be more of a mocker than the Song-Thrush or the Night- 

 ingale, When the nest is approached a soft pi-ti-ii-y is uttered ; 

 the alarm-note being an angry tek, tek, tek. The food of the Icterine 

 Warbler is principally insects and small snails, but in summer and 

 autumn fruit and berries are freely consumed. 



The adult male in spring has the lores and a streak over the eye 

 yellow ; upper parts greyish-olive ; quills brown, broadly margined 

 and tipped with buffish-white on the secondaries, bastard primary 

 very small; tail brown, slightly tipped with buff; under parts lemon- 

 yellow ; bill, brown above, yellowish below ; legs and feet slate- 

 brown. Length 5-2 in. ; wing 3-1 in. The female is a trifle paler; 

 the young bird is browner, with wider pale margins to the quills. 



