52 BARRED WARBLER, 



specimens were exhibited (P. Z. S. 1S84, p. 477). Lastly, on August 

 1 6th, still in 18S4, a young bird was shot by Mr. G. D. Lees near 

 Broadford, Isle of Skye, and subsequently identified by Mr. Dresser. 

 It seems probable that this species has occurred more frequently, 

 while from its skulking habits it may have escaped notice. 



The Barred Warbler is a summer-visitor, for the purpose of 

 breeding, to the southern portions of Sweden, Denmark, Germany 

 east of the Rhine valley, and Central Europe generally in suitable 

 localities ; but so far as 1 know, Nice is its western limit on 

 migration, and in Italy it appears to be restricted to the northern 

 and north-eastern provinces. It also breeds in Bulgaria, Turkey, 

 Southern Russia, Persia and Turkestan ; in the latter up to an 

 altitude of froni 6,000 to 10,000 feet. In October or November it 

 leaves Europe, and probably winters in Central and North-eastern 

 Africa, having been met with in Nubia and Northern Sennaar, among 

 thorn-hedges and thickets along the Nile. 



Towards the end of May the nest, which is more neatly and 

 firmly constructed than is usual among the Warblers, is placed in a 

 bush, or on the branch of a tree near the ground in a plantation ; 

 occasionally however at the height of some twenty-five feet. The 

 eggs, generally 5, are buftish-white marbled with grey, not unlike those 

 of the Grey Wagtail : average measurements '85 by '62 in. Only 

 one brood is reared in the season. Its food is principally insects, 

 but in summer and autumn fruit and berries are freely eaten. 

 The song is said to be little inferior to that of the Garden- Warbler ; 

 the call is a sharp chek and the alarm-note a rattling rha7: Planta- 

 tions, thickets and th.orn-growth are its favourite resorts. 



Adult male in spring : upper parts ashy-grey, brighter on the 

 head and rump, browner on the wings ; upper tail-coverts barred 

 with dark slate and white ; upper wing-coverts slightly barred and 

 tipped with white ; broad white tips to inner secondaries ; tail- 

 feathers tipped and margined on the inner webs with white, except 

 the two central ones, which are ashy-grey with faint darker bars; 

 under parts greyish-white with numerous grey transverse bars, deeper 

 on the flanks ; axillaries and under wing-coverts mottled white and 

 grey ; bill brown, paler at the base ; legs and feet brownish ; iris 

 pale yellow. Length 6'i5 in; wing 3'5 in. Female: browner and 

 less barred. The young exhibit very few markings on the under 

 parts, and, except on the rump, are hardly barred at all. 



