If 



98 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



or thistle, and is firmly secured by the interweaving of the 

 surrounding herbage, which assists to hide it : in general 

 appearance it looks very like the cocoon of a large cater- 

 pillar. 



Upper plumage pale yellowish brown ; centre of the feathers 

 on the head dark brown, forming three more or less distinct 

 longitudinal bands ; centre of the feathers of the upper part 

 of the back, wings, and tail dark brown ; rump more or 

 less ferruginous ; tail fan-shaped, and of moderate length, 

 with a dark spot near the tip of each feather, most visible 

 from underneath ; underparts white, inclining to pale yel- 

 lowish brown towards the flanks ; upper mandible brown ; 

 lower mandible and legs flesh-brown; irides bi'ownish yellow. 



Entire length 4 inches ; culmeu '4 ; wing, carpus to tip, 

 1-9; tarsus 0-8. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 113. 



48. Drymceca gracilis (Riipp.). Graceful Warbler. 



This little Warbler is abundant both in the fields and 

 marshes of Egypt and Nubia, where it remains through- 

 out the year. Its song is powerful and melodious, and is 

 frequently to be heard amongst the reeds. There are appa- 

 rently two constant forms of this bird, but they hardly differ 

 sufficiently to be separated as distinct species. I only brought 

 home one specimen that exactly agreed with the plate in 

 Riippell's ' Atlas,' while all those that I have seen from Lower 

 Egypt belong to the other form ; that is to say, they are 

 darker in colour, have the whole of the shaft-markings more 

 strongly pronounced, are rather larger, and have darker bills. 



