THE WARBLERS. 1 97 



have been procured by Professor Slovzow. In the Ural Moun- 

 tains its range is given as 50 N. lat. It occurs in the Caucasus 

 and North-western Persia, and breeds in Palestine, according 

 to Canon Tristram. In winter it migrates to Africa, as it has 

 been found in Damara Land, the Transvaal, and the eastern 

 Cape Colony. The route taken by the species is mostly by the 

 Nile Valley and through Equatorial Africa, as it has been pro- 

 cured by Emin Pasha at Tingasi, and has also been obtained in 

 Nyassa Land \ it occurs, moreover, on the Gold Coast. 



Habits. — The Garden-Warbler is a somewhat later arrival 

 than the bulk of our summer birds, only reaching our islands 

 in the beginning of May, and leaving again in September. Its 

 unobtrusive plumage and retiring habits render it much less 

 observable than the Blackcap, which in form and habits it so 

 closely resembles. Its song is scarcely inferior to that of the 

 last-named species, and, like the Blackcap and the Nightingale, 

 it seldom sings in the open or from a perch, but generally from 

 the thick undergrowth, in which it loves to skulk. Some- 

 times, however, it may be seen to fly out into the air in pursuit 

 of an insect, of which its food almost entirely consists, though 

 it also devours berries and fruits. This is certainly the case in 

 autumn, when the birds may often be seen on elder-bushes 

 devouring the berries, in company with Blackcaps. At other 

 times of the year, however, these two species do not consort 

 together, but, on the contrary, seem to occupy different locali- 

 ties, so that where the Blackcaps are common there are few 

 Garden-Warblers, and vice versa. 



Nest. — Generally placed near the ground in some secluded 

 spot, and usually so well concealed that neither the eggs nor 

 the sitting bird can be seen. Sometimes it is suspended in 

 nettles, like that of the Whitethroat, and at other times among 

 the thin twigs of the briars which are overhung with foliage, so 

 as to conceal the nest. The latter is very slightly constructed 

 of dry grasses and a few small rootlets, with a little moss or a 

 few cobwebs, and lined with horsehair. 



Eggs. — Four or five in number, more rarely six. In general 

 appearance the eggs are just like those of the Blackcap, but, as 

 a rule, the markings appear to be bolder and coarser than is 

 usual in that species. The red type, which is such a beautiful 



