30 TTJRDID^. 



Curnxca melanocephala (Gmel.), Bote, Isis, 1822, p. 553; Gould, B. 



Em: ii. pi. 123 (1837) ; Deql. et Gerhe, Orn. Eur. i. p. 487 (1807) ; 



Eoderl. Avif. Sicil. p. 122 (1869) ; Shar2)e, Cat. Afr. B. p. 35 



(1871) ; Sh'dlcy, B. E/ypt, p. 107 (1872). 

 Pyrophthalma melanocephala (Gmel), Bp. Ucc. Eur. p. 37 (1842); 



id. Consp. p. 293 (1850) ; Jauh. et Barth.-Lapamin. Rich. Orn. 



p. 248 (1859) ; Neivt. List B. Eur. Bkmun, p. 11 (1802) ; Loche, 



E.rpl. Sci. Ahjh:, Ois. p. 246 (1867); Salvad. Faun. Ital. Ucc. 



p. 105 (1871). 

 Sylvia oclirogenion, Lindermei/er, Isis, 1843, p. 344. 

 MelizophiliLS melauoceplialus {Gmel.), Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 35 



(1850). 

 CuiTuca liictuosa, Brehm, Vogelf. p. 229 (1855). 

 Curruca leucopogon {Meyer), apud Brehm, Vor/elf. p. 229 (1855). 

 Pyrophthalma nigricapilla [C'abanis), apud Brehtn, Naum. 1855, 



■p. 283. 

 Pyrophthahna luctuosa, Brehm, Naum. 1855, p. 283. 

 Motacilla leucotrastra, Ledr\i,Jide Bulle, Journ. Orn. 1857, p. 282. 

 Dumeticola melanocephala {Gmel.), Homeyer, Journ. Orn. 1862, 



p. 277. 

 Sylvia (Pyrophthalma) melanocephala {Gmel.), Fritsch, Voy. Eur. 

 "p. 172 (1870). 



In the adult male hi spring plmnacje the general colour of the 

 upper parts is slate-grey, shading into black on the nape, head, and 

 ear-coverts ; occasionally the upper tail-coverts have darker centres ; 

 innermost secondaries dark brown, broadly edged externally with 

 pale grey ; wing-coverts dark brown, narrowly edged with pale 

 grey ; quills dark brown, tipped with pale grey ; tail dark grey, . 

 approaching black, the outer web of the outside tail-teather white, 

 the inner web broadly tipped with white ; several of the succeeding 

 tail-feathers with a more or less developed terminal wedge of white. 

 Tnderparts greyish white, fading into inire white on the chin, 

 upper throat, and centre of belly ; edge of the wing white ; axil- 

 laries and under wing-covcrts bluish grey ; inner margin of quills 

 pale brown. Bill of typical shape, dark brown, the under mandible 

 pale at the base ; rictal bristles nearly obsolete. Wing with the 

 third, fourth, and fifth primaries neaily equal ; second primary 

 intermediate in length between the sixth and seventh, or seventh 

 and eighlh; bastard primary extending from 0-05 to 0-15 inch be- 

 yond the primary-coverts. Tail longer than the wing ; outside 

 feathers 0-3 to 0'4 inch shorter than the longest. Legs, feet, and 

 claws pale brown. Length of wing 2-35 to 2-1 inches, tail 2-55 

 to 2-25, culmen 0-53 to 0-49, tarsus 0-8. 



The female differs from the male in having the upper parts slaty 

 brown, shading into slate-grey on the crown and ear-coverts ; the 

 breast, flanks, and under tail-coverts are more or less suflused with 

 isabelline brown. After the atitumn moult the head of the male 

 becomes a browner, duller black. Birds of the year scarcely differ 

 from adult females. 



The Sardinian Warbler inhabits the basin of the Mediterranean. 

 On the Euro])ean side it is a partial resident, but on the African side 

 it apiJears to be principally a winter yisitor. 



