378 SYLVTID.E. 



three kingdoms, where beds of willows, rushes or reeds abound, 

 are more or less well stocked with this bird ; aud it is found 

 also where similar vegetation grows around the sides of lakes 

 and even small ponds, as well as on wet commons and fens 

 covered with sedge. On its first ajipearance in this country it 

 will often for a time haunt dry places, such as broom-coverts, 

 young plantations and even hedgerows, if they possess a 

 thick undergrowth of long grass ; but it is not known to 

 build its nest in such spots or at any great distance from 

 water. It breeds regularly in every county of Great Britain, 

 and, according to Thompson, is in Ireland a regular summer- 

 visitant from south to north. Mr. R. Gray says that it 

 occurs sparingly in the isles of Mull and Islay, and may 

 probably be found in Skye, but that it does not visit the 

 Outer Hebrides. In Norway it ranges up to lat. 70° N., and 

 Pastor Sommerfelt thinks it may possibly reach EastFinmark. 

 In Sweden its distribution is less extensive, but Herr Meves 

 says it was shot at Muonioniska in June, 1832, by Stenius, 

 and Wolley obtained it at Muoniovara in August, 1855, 

 though according to Prof. Sundevall it becomes rare even near 

 Upsala and Stockholm. It is found in the south of Finland 

 and thence across to the Ural mountains. How much 

 further to the eastward it goes cannot yet be determined, for 

 it would seem that Pallas's statements as to its occurrence 

 in Siberia may wholly or in part refer to a distinct species. 

 It is found, however, in the south of Piussia, and is recorded 

 from the Caucasus by Menetries, though the specimens 

 obtained there by him presented some slight variations. It 

 also occurs in Asia Minor, Strickland having seen it at 

 SmjTua in December ; and it is very common in Palestine, 

 where it arrives in March. Captain Shelley found it plenti- 

 ful in Egypt in winter, and Dr. Von Heuglin shot many in 

 March on the Sobat River, an affluent of the White Nile. 

 Andersson obtained examples in Damaraland, which Mr. 

 Gurney says are identical with English specimens. Accord- 

 ing to Loche it occurs in Algeria. Mr. Saunders saw it near 

 Malaga in winter, but thinks it does not breed in southern 

 Spain. In almost all the rest of Europe it is a well-known 



