CETTIA CBITII 121 



CETTIA GETTII (Marmora). 

 CETTI'S WAEBLER. 



Sylvia cetti, Mann. Mem. Acad. Tor. xxv, p. 254 (1820). 



Cettia cetti, Degl. Orn. Eur. i, p. 578 (1849) ; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. 



Mus. V, p. 135. 

 Cettia sericea, Locke, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 268 (1867). 

 Bradypterus cettii, Kocnig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 193 ; id. J. f. 0. 1892, 



p. 392. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Marocco. 



Upper plumage rich rufous-brown, wings and tail darker ; lores and 

 a faint superciliary stripe dull white ; throat, breast and middle of abdomen 

 dull white ; sides and flanks greyish-brown ; under tail-coverts reddish- 

 brown tipped with dull white ; tail composed of ten feathers. 



Iris and bill dark brown ; feet light brown. 



Total length 5'50 inches, wing 2-35, culmen -50, tarsus -90. 



Sexes alike. 



This Warbler is not uncommon in the better watered and marshy 

 district of North-west Africa, where it is a resident and breeding 

 species. Dr. Koenig obtained a specimen of it in winter just outside 

 the town of Tunis (J. f. 0. 1888, p. 193). In the Saharan region 

 south of the Atlas the species probably occurs only in winter and does 

 not nest there. Canon Tristram appears to have met with it in 

 the Southern Algerian Sahara during that season. Loche mentions 

 having met with it in various places north of the Atlas, where he 

 found it breeding in June and July. In Marocco Cecti's Warbler is 

 not uncommon in suitable localities, and my collection contains 

 examples of it from the neighbourhood of Fez, Marocco City and 

 Eas-el-Ain, the last-named locality being situated on the coast of 

 South Marocco, in latitude 31° N. The specimens collected at 

 Eas-el-Ain were obtained in June, and were presumably of birds 

 which had bred in the neighbourhood. Mr. Hartert also appears to 

 have found this Warbler not at all uncouuuon in the Mhoiwla district, 

 and took a nest of the species with two eggs on April 9th (Nov. 

 Zool. ix. p. 327). 



Cetti's Warbler is essentially an aquatic bird, and is rarely to be 

 found at any distance from water. Owing to its shyness and retiring 

 habits it piobably often escapes notice, and is thought to be scarcer 



