94 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



occasionally near the town of Tunis itself, as well as on the small 

 island of Djerba off the south-east coast. Dr. Koenig also seems to 

 think that it may occur on the small island of Curiat, near Monastir. 

 Although I cannot positively affirm having met with the Dartford 

 Warbler myself in the Eegency, I remember on one occasion seeing 

 a bird which appeared to be of that species at Hamman-Lif near the 

 town of Tunis, and there seems to be no reason to doubt the fact of 

 its occurrence in the country, particularly as it occurs not unfrequently 

 in Algeria and Marocco, from which countries specimens are to be seen 

 in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, and that of Milan. 

 Canon Tristram and Loche both record its occurrence in Algeria, and 

 Mr. T. Drake and Favier its occurrence in Marocco. Loche, indeed, 

 states that it is resident in Algeria, and Favier that it is resident 

 in Marocco. Whether it is so in Tunisia I cannot say, but I have no 

 knowledge of the species nesting anywhere in the Eegency. 



Like M. sardus, the Dartford Warbler appears to be very local 

 in its distribution, and seems to have a partiality for some of the 

 smaller Mediterranean islands, no doubt on account of the absence 

 of cultivation, and the consequent growth of wild plants of the 

 " maquis " description, so dear to the members of this group of 

 Warblers. Most of the Italian islands include M. undatus in their 

 Ornis, but the species appears to be abundant only where this vege- 

 tation flourishes luxuriantly. On the island of Pantelleria, not far 

 distant from the Tunisian coast, both M. sardus and M. undatus are 

 fairly plentiful, according to Doderlein. 



In its habits the present species is active and restless, flitting 

 from one bush to another, or creeping in and out among the thickest 

 scrub plants, without stopping for a moment. Its flight is jerky 

 and undulating. Insects and grubs form its principal food. 



Its song is short but rather pleasing, its alarm note rather harsh 

 and grating, while its call note is said to resemble the syllables 

 pit-it-chou, whence its French vernacular name, Pitchou. 



