8o The Barred Warbler. 



The eggs vary from four to six in number, but five is the usual clutch : they 

 are dull huffish white marbled with grey, and are not unlike those of the Grey 

 Wagtail, excepting that they are larger; sometimes, however, they are marbled 

 with brown with underlying grey spots; the colouring being massed especially on 

 the larger end. 



Speaking of the song of this species, Herr Mathias Rausch, in the "Gefiederte 

 Welt," for July 30th, 1891, observes that "it is just as beautiful and rich in 

 charming melodies as that of the Garden Warbler, for the most part flute-like and 

 full-toned, frequently indeed intermixed with somewhat rough guttural sounds, yet 

 withal distinctly powerful and also more or less intermingled with snatches from 

 the song of other birds. Also the song of this bird has a swing peculiar to it, 

 which characterizes the species as an original songster." 



" Moreover if reared by hand or trapped when young, Barred Warblers, 

 tauo-ht by good cage-birds, certainly often become admirable imitators of the song 

 of other birds; but, in the case of old wild-caught examples, this faculty is much 

 less perceptible, and for this reason it is hardly fair to reckon them plagiarists." 



Lord Lilford (Coloured figures of Birds of the British Islands) evidently has 

 not so high an opinion of the Barred Warbler's vocal attainments; he says: — "I 

 have three of this species caged at this time of writing; in attitude, song, and 

 general demeanour they very much resemble our Lesser Whitethroat, but are the 

 least restless of any Warblers that I have ever kept in captivity." An adult 

 which lived for some months in the possession of Rev. H. A. Macpherson was a 

 very shy but active bird. 



Dresser, in his "Birds of Europe," says:— "It is never seen sitting still, but 

 appears always moving about. If disturbed, or it sees anything strange, it raises 

 the feathers of its head, jerks its tail, and utters a harsh note. It creeps about 

 amongst the bushes, hopping about from twig to twig without using its wings. 

 It is quarrelsome, and drives intruders from the vicinity of its nest." 



" It sings from early in the morning, except during the heat of the day, 

 until late in the evening, and frequently sings when at some height in the air or 

 fluttering from tree to tree." 



