tu the Oniithuluyy of Eyijpt. 297 



rocky valley iu tlie hills. I believe tlie bird to be a residcut 

 iu this locality, as I have raet with it and obtained examples 

 in February, August, and December. It is extremely wild 

 and shy for a small bird, and specimens are obtained with 

 considerable difficulty. It seldom, if ever, takes refuge in 

 a bush, but flies ahead, occasionally settling on the top of a 

 rock. When hard pressed it invariably either flutters up the 

 steep sides of the valley or flies away out of siglit. The 

 call-note of this bird is a shrill chirp and the song a short 

 trill. It is not included in Shelley's ' Birds of Egypt.' 



41. Drymq-xa gracilis delt.e (Ricli.). 



Drymceca gracilis Shelley, p. 98. 



The Graceful Wren- Warbler is resident in the Giza Pro- 

 vince. Numbers nest in tlie Zoological Gardens. 



45. CisTicoLA ciSTicoLA (Tcmm.). 



Cisticola schoenicola Shelley, p. 97. 



The Fan-tailed Warbler is abundant and resident in the 

 province. 



[46, Htpolais polyglotta. 



PhyUopneuste hippolais Shelley, p. 103. 



Capt. Shelley did not meet with the Melodious Tree- 

 Warbler in Egypt, and I have no positive record of its 

 occurrence ; but I fancy that I have seen it once in September 

 and once in March in the Giza Zoological Gardens.] 



47. Hypolais pallida (Ilempr. & Ehr.). 



Hypolais elceica Shelley, p. 100. 



The Olivaceous Tree-Warbler is the most abundant of our 

 breeding birds. The first individuals appear towards the end 

 of March and at once begin singing. The song at first 

 resembles that of the Reed- Warbler [Acrocephalus streperus), 

 but after the birds have been here a few weeks their notes 

 become richer. I believe the Olivaceous Warbler to have 

 two moults in the year. The nests are placed in a variety 

 of situations, usually in tall clumps of flowering plants or 

 shrubsj but I have found several in the lower branches of 

 fir-trees and one in a branch of BoiKjainvillia overhanging 

 water. By the end of October all the birds have taken their 



