644 Messrs. Ogilvie-Grant and Reid on Birds 



search o£ insects ; tlioiigh widely distributed it was nowhere 

 common. — A. E. P.] 



110. PhYLLOSCOPUS RUFUS. 



Phylloscopus rufus (Bechst.) ; Grant^ Ibis_, 1900^ p. 152. 



a. 6 . Zaila, Somaliland, 5th Nov. No. 12. 



h. ? Lake El Toki, S. Abyssinia, 28th Feb. No. 594. 

 c. ? . Marko, S.Abyssinia, 17th Mar. No. 695. 

 Iris brown ; bill and legs black. 



The birds sent include examples of the larger dark-backed 

 form (specimen h) and the smaller yellow-backed form 

 (specimens a, c). 



b. Wing 2"5 inches. 

 a. „ 2-2 „ 



c. ,, 2"3 ,, 



[The Chiffchaff was met with from the coast right up to 

 the Hawash.— A. E. P.] 



Special interest attaches to the different forms of the 

 Chiffchaff and Willow- Wren. In both these species we find 

 two rather well-marked forms — a larger darker-backed race 

 and a smaller lighter-coloured race. Both forms of the 

 Chiffchaff and Willow-Wren are picked up in numbers by 

 the lighthouse-keepers on the Irish coast^ but it has not been 

 ascertained with certainty that they come in separate flocks 

 or at different times of year ; in fact, the evidence seems to 

 point rather to the contrary. 



Through the kindness of Mr. R. M. Barrington we have 

 recently received specimens of both races of Willow- Wren, 

 and have been enabled to measure a few skins and wings 

 in his possession. 



We take this opportunity of recording our notes : — 



Willow-Wrens {Phylloscopus trochilus). 

 Large dark-backed form. 

 No sex given. Wing 2*8 inches (wings only sent) . From 

 S. Maidens Lighthouse, co. Antrim, 18/iv./93. 



No sex given. Wing 2*75 inches (wings only sent) . From 

 Hook Tower. 24/iv./97. 



