LOCUSTELLA LUSCINIOIDES 119 



close to the Tunisian frontier, as well as in Marocco. Specimens of the 

 bird, obtained by Loche near Lake Fezzara, and Harrach, exist in the 

 Turati Collection of the Milan Museum. According to Loche (Expl. 

 Scient. Alg. Ois. i, p. 277) the species is not often met with in Algeria, 

 and it is probably more or less rare throughout North-west Africa 

 generally. In Marocco it has been obtained by Mr. Tyrwhitt-Drake 

 (Ibis, 1867, p. 427), and the bird is no doubt to be found there in 

 limited numbers during the winter, as it appears to be not uncommon 

 at that season in South Spain. In Italy, on the other hand, the species 

 is rather rare, being, in fact, unrecorded from the south of the Peninsula 

 and some of the Italian islands. 



The Grasshopper - Warbler is generally to be found in wet or 

 humid localities, where the vegetation is rank and luxuriant ; 

 occasionally, however, it may be met with in dry spots, provided 

 always there are bushes near at hand. It is of shy and retiring 

 habits, and is more often heard than seen, particularly during the 

 early morning or late evening hours. Its song, which has given rise 

 to the bird's trivial English name, is supposed to resemble the 

 chirping of the grasshopper or cricket, and by some it has been 

 likened to the grinding of a mill-stone. Its food consists chiefly of 

 insects and their larvae. 



LOCUSTELLA LUSCINIOIDES (Savi). 

 SAVrS WAEBLEE. 



Sylvia luscinioides, Savi, Nuov. Giom. Letter, vii, p. 341 (1824) ; 



Malherhc, Faune Orn. de I'Alrj. p. 13 (1855) ; Koenirj, J. f. 0. 18S8, p. 190- 

 Locustella luscinioides, Gould, Birds of Europe, ii, pi. 104 (1837) ; 



Scehohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v, p. 112. 

 Lusciniola saYii, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 265 (1867) ; Koeiiig 



J.f. 0. 1892, p. 389. 



Description.— kdnlt male, spring, from Italy. 



Entire upper plumage dull reddish-brown ; a faint buff superciliary 

 stripe; under plumage pale rufescent-brown, becoming whitish on the 

 throat and middle of the abdomen ; tail-feathers, which are twelve in 

 number, indistinctly barred. 



Iris, bill and feet brown. 



Total length 5-50 inches, wing 2-75, culmen -60, tarsus -85. 



Sexes alike. 



