Measure- 

 ments. 



291 



so that the nest looks very white.* A typical nest measures 31 in. high 

 and 3i in. broad; diameter of cup, 21 in., depth If in. Each pair has 

 its own district, and the extraordinary song of the cock at once calls 

 attention to the locality. 



Usually 4 or 5, sometimes 6 in number, with the characteristic dull ^8»'- 

 rose coloured ground, varying in depth somewhat and sparingly marked 

 with sharply defined black spots and streaks with an occasional hair line. 

 Greyish shell markings are also sometimes met with. They can generally 

 be distinguished from eggs of H. yolyglotta by their larger size, but vary 

 a good deal in this respect. 



In middle Europe eggs are occasionally found at the end of May, breeding 

 but as a rule not till early in June, while in Scandinavia the usual time 

 is about mid June, sometimes not till the end of the month. Incubation 

 is performed by both sexes in turn for 13 days., the male bird sitting 

 during the afternoon (Naumann). 



Average size of 142 eggs (95 by Rey and 47 by Bau), 18.35 X 13.4, 

 Max. 20.6x13 and 19x14.1, Min. 17x13 and 18.1x12.4 mm. 

 Average weight, 91 mg. (Rey); 92 mg. (Bau). 



138. Melodious Warbler, Hippolais polyglottc (Vieill.). 



Plate 15, fig. 7—9 (Madrid, Spain). 



Eggs: Dresser, pi. — , fig. 29, 30. Howard, Br. Warblers, pi. II, 

 fig. 33. 



Foreign Names: France: Fauvette polyglotte. Portugal: Folosa. 

 Italy: Canapiuo. Spain: Ahnendrita de vercwo. 



Hypolais polyglotta (Vieill.). Dresser, B. of Europe, II, p. 517 and Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 108. Saunders, Man. p. 77. Hippolais polyi/lotta (Vieill.). 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 571. 



Breeding Range: The Iberian peninsula, France (except in the 

 N. E.) and Italy. [Also N. W. Africa.] 



[Like the preceding species this bird has also occurred in England 

 in spring, and there is reason to believe that it has bred occasionally, 

 but further confirmation is required. Cf. Ibis, 1897, p. 627 etc.] 



In the Iberian peninsula this species is common, but on the whole con- 

 less numerous than the W. Olivaceons Warbler. It is fairly well distri- E^p" 

 buted over the greater part of Spain and Portugal on suitable ground, 

 except N. of the Cantabrian range, where it has not yet been recorded, 

 but is more common in the southern and eastern provinces than in the 



* Rey met with two nests in a large rookery wliich were almost covered with 

 Rooks' feathers. 



19* 



